The interaction of biopsychological and socio-environmental influences on criminological outcomes

Abstract

Because criminal behavior has many causes, it is reasonable to assume that some of those causal factors will interact. Interactions occur when the effect of one factor on an outcome depends in some way on the presence or absence of another factor. Although tests for interactions are common, there remains no formal typology of interaction models in criminology generally or biopsychosocial criminology specifically. Empirical studies often overlook some of the challenges of statistically testing for interactions. This review, thus, had three goals: (1) offer a typology of interactions that criminologists are likely to observe; (2) provide an example analysis testing for interactions; and (3) survey the key challenges that arise when empirically assessing interactions. We do so while reviewing research in biopsychosocial criminology, a perspective that has expanded in recent years and has frequently tested for interactions. Implications for theory and policy are discussed.