Is Criminal Behavior Determined Biologically Essay

Is Criminal Behavior Determined Biologically - Essay Example Some do believe that crime has a genetic disposition but I believe that any person, irrespective of their biological or genetic background, when faced with certain stress factors can commit crime. Since the very beginning of the 20th century, several social researchers have reported that Blacks tend to commit more crimes when compared to their White or Asian counterparts (Piquero and Barme,2008). In fact official statistics also support this claim since and the racial minorities are regarded to be more genetically disposed towards crimes than other groups. In the recent years the field of behavioral genetics has conducted massive studies to understand whether genes and crimes are related or not. Race studies, adoption studies and twin studies have suggested that anti-social behavior is linked to the genes. Experts believe that since things such as gambling, drug abuse, risk-taking behavior and pleasure-seeking show evidence of genetic influence and since all of these behaviors have the potential to initiate crimes; one may suggest that crime and genes maybe closely related (Baker et al, 2006). In fact the field of forensic psychiatry supports the idea that chronic criminals h ave mutations in their genes which are hereditary in nature. According to this these mutations have an effect on the autonomic nervous system which in turn reduces an individual’s ability to learn normal social forces in inhibiting criminal behavior (Mednick and Finello,1983). On the other hand, with regards to the Nature versus nurture theory, I feel that nurturing has profound influence on one’s behavior. The environment and stress factors that an individual is exposed to, has a great deal of influence on his behavioral outcomes. Some of these stress factors are poverty and drug abuse. The constant association of Black minorities to commit crimes is overrated. In fact,