No gene linked to violent crime (e.g murder, mugging) but likely inherited temperament & personality characterisitics make someone more susceptible to commiting violent crime--> Adoption studies highest rates of criminal violence occur both bio. & adoptive parents history of violent crime --> H/W BRENNAN: gentic influences signif. in terms of property crime (e.g. burglary, vandalism) not violent crime
Issues w/METHODOLOGY in the area of research: most studies focus individ. convicted violent crime = 2 PROBLEMS: (1) convictions for violent crime very few compared to number violent attacks that don't result in conviction therefore repres. small minority of those involvd in aggress. behaviour ... (2) crimes described violent in court not necessarily most serious/habitual as ciminal sent straight to psychiatric ward & not all cases fully described in court b/c soo horrific --> Expalins why studies found little evidence of hereditability of violence
MILES: meta-analysis of 24 twin & adoption studies & results suggests 50% link b/twn genes and aggres. --> Genes & environmental factors very strong in influencing aggress. in youth--> H/W later on environmental decreases & genes become more powerful --> RHEE CONTRADICTS.: meta-analysis 51 twin & adoption studies and concluded aggression product of genetic influences --> H/W limitation of meta-analyses ... level of control in each study not ascertainable
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