Inevitable, influential, or unnecessary? Exploring the utility of genetic explanation for delinquent behavior

Abstract

In the field of criminology there have been a few recent articles addressing genetic influence on delinquent behavior. The scarcity of research within the field of criminology into genetic influence may be the result of two intertwined factors: methodological difficulties and the lack of a theoretical framework to guide research. The current research addressed these two issues in determining if genetic factors are a necessary part of the delinquency equation. Using Harris' group socialization theory as a framework, the results from the random effects regression and DF analyses indicated that there was a utility to genetic explanations of delinquent behavior. The results further implicated the importance of gene-environment interactions in understanding the true impact of genetic influence on behavior. Implications of the results are discussed.