Have you ever heard a story about a criminal and wondered why they did what they did? I find stories about crimes and criminals quite intriguing for many reasons, but one major thing that makes them so interesting is the mental aspect of crime. What goes on in the minds of criminals that causes them to do things that most of us would never think of doing? How are their minds different than those of other people that do not commit crimes? Many people strive to understand the workings of the criminal mind, and some of their work has indicated that genetics may play a role in why some people commit crimes and others do not.
Fortunately, the research that has connected genetics and criminal activity has also indicated that what are inherited are not actual genes that cause the carriers of those genes to do bad things. What is inherited are genes that cause the individuals that carry them to have psychological disorders that, if left untreated, can cause those individuals to engage in criminal activity. In other words, genes are not solely responsible for criminal behavior. The environment has a large effect on whether or not an individual’s inherited propensity towards criminal behavior will be expressed.
The fact that some of the psychological disorders that put individuals at risk for engaging in criminal activity tend to run in families may help to prevent crime. If a family knows that a child may have inherited a particular psychological condition, they can be on the lookout for early signs of that condition. When psychological conditions are diagnosed and treated early, the outcomes can be very favorable and the individuals with those conditions can learn to manage them effectively throughout their lifetime. It is my hope that over time, more and more crimes can be prevented by providing individuals with psychological disorders with proper care and treatment.
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