Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Development of Childhood Antisocial Behavior: Current Evidence and Directions for Future Research

Abstract

During the past couple of decades, there has been a tremendous amount of empirical research examining the genetic foundation to antisocial behaviors at various stages of the life course. The results of these studies have consistently revealed that about 50% of the variance in antisocial behaviors is the result of genetic factors, with most of the remaining variance being attributable to nonshared environmental influences. More recently, there has been a significant focus on trying to identify the specific genes that might be involved in the etiology of these types of behaviors. Although the findings have been relatively inconsistent and mixed, there is an emerging body of research indicating that genes have their most consistent and powerful effects when they are paired to environmental risk factors. Unfortunately, most of this genetic research has yet to be integrated into life-course criminology. The purpose of the current chapter is to review some of the research bearing on the genetic underpinnings to antisocial behaviors and discuss the various ways that it has application to criminological theory and research and to offer avenues for future research.