The effects of genetic predisposition to criminal behaviour

Abstract

In the field of genetic research on criminal behaviour is the fact that the magnitude of genetic effects depends on social circumstances and other environmental factors. All major adoption studies of criminal behaviour have shown that genetic risk is amplified in the presence of adverse environmental factors viewed differently; the substantial genetic risk for criminal offending may be ameliorated in low risk environments. The nature of these environmentally based protective factors need greater attention in future genetic research on crime and aggression. The fact that genetic predispositions exist for criminal offending does in no way imply that environmental factors are unimportant, nor that effective treatment and prevention programs cannot be developed and implemented to reduce the chances that an individual will engage in law-breaking or other antisocial behaviours.