Once again researchers have argued over the role of genetics in criminals and psychopaths. Relatively recent research suggests that it may be possible to predict which children are at risk for engaging in deviant criminal behavior based upon brain anatomy and genetics. For instance, research has shown that abnormal fear responses in children may predict criminal behavior later on in life. Research has demonstrated that in psychopaths, the amygdala is not activated during tasks that involve moral decision making. This makes sense as the amygdala is largely involved in the fear response and in the majority of people, it is activated when dealing with moral dilemmas. Note that in many situations, psychopaths come to the same ethical decisions as their controls, however, the brain does not show an emotional response. Therefore, it is probable that criminals are aware of what is right and what is wrong but there is no emotional feeling produced when considering what is wrong.
Studies have consistently demonstrated that the heritability of criminal/deviant tendencies is approximately 50%. This means that environmental factors including parenting, abuse, poverty, discrimination, and unemployment account for the other 50% of variance. Thus biological and environmental influences are both important when understanding criminal behavior. Researchers have analyzed the difference between repeat offenders and one time offenders. Offenders who have not engaged in criminal behavior in four years still have the same functional brain abnormalities displayed in repeat offenders. This suggests that environmental factors can change behavior. In other words, biological risk factors alone do not determine one's destiny. Currently there is a lack of research on the balance of biological predispositions and protective factors in criminal/deviant behaviors. Future studies are needed to address this which may have implications that can be utilized to direct intervention and prevention programs.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/28/more-on-the-criminal-brain-nature-vs-nurture/
I thought this was a really intriguing take on the nature/nurture debate on criminology. Personally, I thought that the results show promising possibilities for prevention programs that can provide youth with the necessary resources and attention before any incidents. I think a longitudinal study following children who display these predispositions and testing different strategies for helping them adjust would prove immensely beneficial not only from an individual perspective but from a policymaking one as well.
ReplyDeleteThis study is particularly interesting in my opinion because whereas most research in this field deals with correlating personality and other psychological factors to future criminal activity, this one actually finds biological propensities that may likely be involved in psychopathy. In my opinion, this is a promising alternative that can more readily be measured.
It is unfortunate that violent behavior in certain individuals has a genetic cause. It is however reassuring that the environment plays a significant role in determining personality. It is vital that children with a genetic propensity for violence be exposed to a rich and nurturing environment.
ReplyDeleteChildren with such genes will more than likely have parents who also possess such genes. To compound matters even more, such parents are likely to be abusive. It is vital that not only are the children educated and nurtured but also the parents(if they exhibit anti social behavior).
In extreme cases, the child should be taken away from their parents.
This is the first time I have heard the nature/nurture agreement used with sociopaths, but I think it makes perfect sense. While it doesn't seem fair that some people get faulty genes, at least those genes only give a vulnerability to a situation. With the Human Gnome Project underway, hopefully scientists can discover these faulty genes and fix them before a situation evolves. People's fates are not predestined by their genes, but a combination of genes and their life choices.
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