Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 263: Is there a genetic susceptibility to engage in criminal acts?

Katherine I Morley and Wayne D Hall
ISBN 0 642 53816 6 ; ISSN 0817-8542
September 2003

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Abstract

Debates about criminality have long focused on the relative contributions of environment and genetics as components of antisocial and destructive behaviour. The past decade or so has seen an increase in research on the genetics of behaviour, including antisocial behaviour. Many criminologists are understandably concerned about the potential misuse of this research given the earlier historical experiences with the eugenic use made of biological explanations of crime, and of genetic explanations in particular. This paper summarises this evidence. Recent twin studies show persuasive evidence that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to antisocial behaviour. However the genetic evidence indicates that there is no single gene, or even a small number of genes, that predict an increased risk of antisocial behaviour. Where there have been some effects, the increase in risk associated with antisocial behaviour is modest.

This paper is taken from the report of research undertaken with the assistance of a grant from the Criminology Research Council.

References

• Criminology Research Council
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