How Genetics Affect Criminal Behavior
Lynn Wigtion
English Comp 2
4/27/2003
Amy DeBolt

The human behavioral system is neither environmentally or genetically determined, but does have potentials that come through interaction of the environment and genes (Jones, pg.87). Concerning criminal behavior, many people want to blame the parents, or the individual’s upbringing, especially if it is a child or a teen committing a crime. Others want to blame social media and gaming or our society. While all of these can play a role in criminal behavior, so does genetics. Let’s repeat that, genetics play a role in criminal behavior, not make a person become a criminal. Genes do not cause behavior, but they affect tendencies to behave in certain ways (Nurnberger, Aug 10, 2006, para. 3). Anything can influence an individual to act and behave like a criminal, but those things do not make individuals commit crimes. That is entirely a choice. Genes contribute to an individual’s patterns because genes affect learning. Saying that something is influenced genetically is not saying environmental factors are not relevant. Saying a behavior is influenced genetically is not saying that it is unalterable or inevitable. “A predisposition is not predestination (Jones, pg87). Several components that contribute to criminal behavior are looked at; however, genetic factors are often overlooked as an important attribute. Some genetic influences are children who have behavior or disruptive disorders, such as ADHD. Other genetics can come from parents. Tests and studies have been done on adoptees and twins to shows how criminologist scientists have come up with this conclusion. Since genetics can play a role in criminal behavior, this means that gender and race may also be included. It is crime, not race that leads to more stops in minority neighborhoods.

Children with disruptive