How Does Genetics Cause Criminal Behavior?
Studies of Criminology
Brandie Kling
American Intercontinental University
Abstract
It is said that studies have found that genetics cause criminal behavior, and that there is a gene that can be linked to criminals.With the help of new technology and science as a tool to uncover criminal behavior and the criminals, the thought of genes being a source of criminal behavior is not far-fetched. We will discuss the thought of the idea that genetics make up for criminal behavior. I will provide you all with examples that can be found through research studies and have evidence linking genetics and crime, including twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies. We also will learn what some of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence …show more content…
surrounding genetics and crime are. I will also explain why I think police departments should consider dismissing these findings in my opinion from my research.
Studies of Criminology
In this paper we will be learning all kinds of interesting things. One of the things we will be learning is the idea that we could be all be at risk of being a criminal because of genetics. Crazy huh? Science is a wonderful thing whether we agree with it or not. Now let’s not get me too far off subject, and let us get to learning more about what makes a criminal.
We will begin with explaining the idea that genetics can form criminal behavior.
We will be going over research studies that have evidence linking genetics and crime, including twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies. Beginning with twin studies this is where identical twins are studied based on their behavior. This is due to the thought that if one twin is criminal the other should be as well (Williams, Mcshane,pp33,2014). Another studies is that involving adopted children with the theory that adopted children would grow up with the criminal background of their adopted parents versus their birth parents (Williams, Mcshane,pp33,2014). Both studies had no hard proof on whether the results were due to genetics or environment. The testosterone study however studies the links between hike in testosterone and crime. When a male has higher testosterone levels it is said that they are more aggressive and more sexual(Barber,2009). This has been proven by people who take steroids and other drugs that boost the body’s natural occurring hormones. I personally agree with many others who agree that becoming a criminal is not caused by genetics. A writer for the New York Times by the name Patricia Cohen states “Everyone in the field agrees there is no “crime gene.” What most researchers are looking for are inherited traits that are linked to aggression and antisocial behaviors, which may in turn lead to violent crime.”(Patricia Cohen,2011, …show more content…
para7). Now we will move on to some of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence surrounding genetics and crime.
For this there is much more weakness to these theories than there are strengths, but then again I suppose that is why they are just theories. The weaknesses here is the fact that no two people are alike, we are all different in our minds. The strengths to these studies however, are that scientists feel that they are one step closer to understanding the human mind and what makes a criminal. The fact of the matter is that no matter how well you think you know someone, you don’t. Because of what I have just wrote I feel that police departments should consider or dismiss such findings, because no matter what a theory concludes it is still a theory and not a fact. According to these theories I should be a criminal, but I am not. If we were all judged as criminals because of an ancestor who was a criminal how is that
fair?
You see crime has been around since the beginning of time when Eve bit in to the forbidden fruit. When she did that she broke Gods law. Now according to this if you believe in the Bible and these theories then we are all criminals. This concludes my paper I hope I have been helpful and informative.
Reference
Frank P Williams, Marilyn D Mcshane (2014) criminological theory 6th edition page 33
Nigel Barber PH.D (2009) “Sex Violence and Hormones” Para.1 Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/200907/sex-violence-and-hormones
Patricia Cohen (2011) “Genetic basis for crime: a new look” New York times para.7 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/arts/genetics-and-crime-at-institute-of-justice-conference.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Brandie Kling
American Intercontinental University
Abstract
It is said that studies have found that genetics cause criminal behavior, and that there is a gene that can be linked to criminals.With the help of new technology and science as a tool to uncover criminal behavior and the criminals, the thought of genes being a source of criminal behavior is not far-fetched. We will discuss the thought of the idea that genetics make up for criminal behavior. I will provide you all with examples that can be found through research studies and have evidence linking genetics and crime, including twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies. We also will learn what some of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence …show more content…
surrounding genetics and crime are. I will also explain why I think police departments should consider dismissing these findings in my opinion from my research.
Studies of Criminology
In this paper we will be learning all kinds of interesting things. One of the things we will be learning is the idea that we could be all be at risk of being a criminal because of genetics. Crazy huh? Science is a wonderful thing whether we agree with it or not. Now let’s not get me too far off subject, and let us get to learning more about what makes a criminal.
We will begin with explaining the idea that genetics can form criminal behavior.
We will be going over research studies that have evidence linking genetics and crime, including twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies. Beginning with twin studies this is where identical twins are studied based on their behavior. This is due to the thought that if one twin is criminal the other should be as well (Williams, Mcshane,pp33,2014). Another studies is that involving adopted children with the theory that adopted children would grow up with the criminal background of their adopted parents versus their birth parents (Williams, Mcshane,pp33,2014). Both studies had no hard proof on whether the results were due to genetics or environment. The testosterone study however studies the links between hike in testosterone and crime. When a male has higher testosterone levels it is said that they are more aggressive and more sexual(Barber,2009). This has been proven by people who take steroids and other drugs that boost the body’s natural occurring hormones. I personally agree with many others who agree that becoming a criminal is not caused by genetics. A writer for the New York Times by the name Patricia Cohen states “Everyone in the field agrees there is no “crime gene.” What most researchers are looking for are inherited traits that are linked to aggression and antisocial behaviors, which may in turn lead to violent crime.”(Patricia Cohen,2011, …show more content…
para7). Now we will move on to some of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence surrounding genetics and crime.
For this there is much more weakness to these theories than there are strengths, but then again I suppose that is why they are just theories. The weaknesses here is the fact that no two people are alike, we are all different in our minds. The strengths to these studies however, are that scientists feel that they are one step closer to understanding the human mind and what makes a criminal. The fact of the matter is that no matter how well you think you know someone, you don’t. Because of what I have just wrote I feel that police departments should consider or dismiss such findings, because no matter what a theory concludes it is still a theory and not a fact. According to these theories I should be a criminal, but I am not. If we were all judged as criminals because of an ancestor who was a criminal how is that
fair?
You see crime has been around since the beginning of time when Eve bit in to the forbidden fruit. When she did that she broke Gods law. Now according to this if you believe in the Bible and these theories then we are all criminals. This concludes my paper I hope I have been helpful and informative.
Reference
Frank P Williams, Marilyn D Mcshane (2014) criminological theory 6th edition page 33
Nigel Barber PH.D (2009) “Sex Violence and Hormones” Para.1 Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/200907/sex-violence-and-hormones
Patricia Cohen (2011) “Genetic basis for crime: a new look” New York times para.7 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/arts/genetics-and-crime-at-institute-of-justice-conference.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0