This book profiles biological approaches to understanding why some people are criminals and others not. The
book, written by internationally recognized behavioral geneticist David C. Rowe, offers instructors and students
a brief, contemporary presentation of biological approaches to crime with a minimum of jargon. (A background in
the biological sciences is not required.)
Boxes highlight special topics and examples drawn from newspaper stories to spark student interest.
Chapters cover:
Behavioral genetics
Evolutionary approaches to crime
Biological tests for criminal disposition
The human genome and crime
The environment and crime
Ethical and policy implications
This book will enrich students' appreciation of the nexus of biology and crime-- without negating non-biological
theories of crime.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Biology and Crime
Two Biological Perspectives on Crime
Levels of Biological Analysis
Environmental Influences
Chapter 2: The Heritability of Criminal Disposition
Identical Twins and Crime
How to Interpret Heritability Coefficients
Inferring Genetic Influence on Behavioral Characteristics
Environmental Influences
Shared and Nonshared Environmental Influence
Estimating Genetic and Environmental Influences in Behavioral Genetic Research Designs
Mednick's Classic Adoption Study of Crime
The Developmental Perspective
Psychiatric Disorders and Criminality
Chapter 3: The Evolutionary Perspective on Crime
Perspectives on Human Behavior and Evolution
Sexual Selection and Sex Differences in Crime
Kin Selection and Crime
Individual Differences and Evolution
Evolutionary Theory of Biological Differences in Criminal Disposition
The Alternative Strategy Theories
Chapter 4: Does the Body Tell? Biological Characteristics and Criminal Disposition
Finding the Physiological Basis of Criminal Disposition
Blood and Saliva Tests of Criminal Disposition
Serotonin Levels
Heart Rate Tests of Criminal Disposition
Skin Conductance Tests of Criminal Disposition
Tests of Brain Anatomy and Function
Chapter 5: A Gene for Crime? Molecular Genetics and Criminal Disposition
An Introduction to Molecular Genetics
Variation at the Level of the Gene
Genes and the Determination of Behavioral Characteristics
Methods of Finding Genes Related to Behavioral Traits
Specific Genes Related to Criminal Disposition
The Dopamine Receptor (D4) Gene
A Serotonin Gene
The MAOA Gene
Chapter 6: Environmental Influences in Light of Genetic Findings
Peer Groups, Gangs, and Crime
Genotype x Environment Interactions
Historical Changes in Crime
Changing Crime Rates Without Affecting the Root Causes of Crime
Changing Crime Rates By Affecting the Root Causes of Crime
Chapter 7: A Look Ahead: Implications for Criminal Justice Policy and Ethical Concerns
The Medical Model vs. the Criminal Justice Model
Using Biological Markers to Predict Future Characteristics
Predicting Criminal Disposition from Genetic Information
In the Name of Eugenics
Eugenic Policies and Criminal Disposition
Why the Criminal Justice System is Not Scientifically-Based