Genetic factors

• What does the genetic argument suggest about criminal behaviour?

  • it proposes that one or more genes predispose individuals to criminal behaviour
• What evidence supports a genetic component in criminality?

  • Adrian Raine (1993): reviewed twin studies and found:

  • 52% concordance for MZ (identical) twins

  • 21% concordance for DZ (non-identical) twins

  • this suggests a stronger genetic influence in identical twins, who share 100% of their genes