(Joseph, 2001; Tehrani and Mednick, 2000) in these studies, it was found that there were strong correlations between children of criminals and antisocial behavior. There were internal variations within studies. One study showed that adopted children of white collar criminals were more likely to be criminals than those of violent criminals. One of the reasons why firm determinations cannot be made as whether nature (genes) or nurture (environment) triumphs is because of these confounding issues. Clearly, none of these studies were longitudinal. They were not carried out over several years where criminal records of these children studied, as adults were obtained. The inferences drawn in all these studies were based on predictive behaviors characterized by impulsiveness, aggression and tendencies towards APD. Genes are responsible for the creation of proteins and also signal the release of certain neurochemicals that are responsible for behavioral disorders. People with depression are often prescribed pharmaceutical products. An example of this class of products is serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. Serotonin is association with feelings of euphoria. But the reuptake after the function is performed results in feelings of depression. SSRIs prevent this cycling. Abnormal secretion of serotonin is responsible for aggressive behavior. The same is with the neurotransmitter, dopamine. (Brunner et al., 1993) Several other neurochemicals individually or in concert with other chemicals have been shown to have strong correlations with criminal behavior. Each of these is dependent upon the genetic makeup of the individual.

There are also several studies that have shown that family and environmental influences result in antisocial behavior. One confounder is a study of MOA in a Dutch family, which showed that the family history of crime amongst several of the males were associated with low levels of MOA. (Brunner et al., 1993) This was confirmed from other studies. But environmental factors have also shown to result in aggressive, antisocial behavior. Families where abuse occurs, or families that are financially not well off, where there is a lack of education or sustained employment will often find that its children are antisocial. A family where there is a lack of nurturing and poor to no communication...

Is it possible then that genetic influence because the parents or guardians within families not create an environment that is sufficiently nurturing? This is one confounder that affects the conclusions from these studies. There is no study that starts out assessing children from broken homes and identifies if certain genes are responsible for this.
In conclusion therefore, because criminal behavior brings along with it the baggage of confounding characteristics, it is hard to answer the nature vs. nurture question deterministically. It has to be done in a probabilistic manner, in terms of likelihoods. The results of these studies have prompted researchers to show that there are two types of individuals that indulge in sociopathic, criminal and antisocial behavior. The first type of individual has a genetic predisposition to crime. The combination of gene products and biological processes result in a lack of inhibition and results in impulsive and aggressive behavior. On the other hand, an individual who is brought up in an environment where the opportunities are lacking, there is a lack of communication, where lack of finances and education stifle any kind of emotional growth and personality development will also exhibit criminal tendencies.

Bibliography

Brunner, H.G., et al. "Abnormal Behavior Associated with a Point Mutation in the Structural Gene for Monoamine Oxidase a." Science 262.5133 (1993): 578-80.

Holmes, S.E., J.R. Slaughter, and J. Kashani. "Risk Factors in Childhood That Lead to the Development of Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder." Child Psychiatry and Human Development 31 (2001): 183-93.

Joseph, J. "Is Crime in the Genes? A Critical Review of Twin and Adoption Studies of Criminality and Antisocial Behavior." The Journal of Mind and Behavior 22 (2001): 179-218.

Morley, K., and W. Hall. "Is There a Genetic Susceptibility to Engage in Criminal Acts?" Australian Institute of Criminology: Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice 263 (2003): 1-6.

Pinker, Steven. The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature. New York: Viking, 2002.

Tehrani, J., and S. Mednick. "Genetic Factors and Criminal Behavior." Federal…