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Abstract
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In her review of the literature on the intergenerational transmission of violent behaviors, Widom (1989a) addressed the social issues but omitted all references to the relevant biological and genetic literature. This addition to her review introduces studies of criminality, delinquency, and violence from a behavioral genetic standpoint. There is clear evidence for a genetic role in criminality and for a physiological basis for violent behavior. The inclusion of such genetic and biological evidence is necessary for a more complete understanding of the transmission of violence from one generation to another.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by DiLalla and Gottesman was to provide a literature review of the body of research linking violence with certain biological and genetic characteristics. It was written in response to a literature review by Widom (1989) on the intergenerational transmission of violence which had only discussed environmental factors.
METHODOLOGY:
This study discussed three categories of methodologies commonly utilized in genetic research. First, family studies were described as providing a method of testing whether or not there are any connections, environmental or genetic, between family members. However, it was pointed out that they cannot help in distinguishing between genetic and environmental causes. Second, twin studies were discussed as providing a method of controlling for genetic factors in that monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes and dizygotic twins share about 50% of their genes. Therefore, it became possible to compare genetic and environmental influences to some extent. Third, adoption studies were discussed as providing a method which involves subjects who share genes but not environment with their biological parents and who share environment but not genes with their adoptee parents. Studies of delinquency and criminality and physiological studies of aggression which utilized these three types of genetic research methodology were then detailed.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Genetic studies of delinquency and criminality using both twin and adoption methods were mentioned as supporting the hypothesis that genetic factors are linked to violent behavior. One adoption study found that genetic factors explained more of the variance in antisocial behavior than environmental factors; another study found that adoptees who had criminal biological parents but noncriminal adopted parents were 4 times more likely to engage in violent behavior. Twin studies also found some connections between genetics and violent criminal behavior. The genetic studies on delinquency using twin methods, court records and self-report measures found some evidence of genetic influences on anti-social and violent behaviors. Studies on the physiological influences on aggression found some support in animal studies. Findings of human physiological studies of aggression, involving tests of testosterone levels, insulin secretion levels, serotonin metabolite (5HIAA) levels, physical anomalities caused during pregnancy and heart rate before adverse stimulus, seemed to show some physiological basis to aggressive behavior.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors stressed the importance of including studies on the genetic and biological influences on violent behavior when broadly discussing the literature on correlates to violence. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
N1 - Call Number: F-425, AB-425
KW - Twin Studies
KW - Biological Factors
KW - Genetic Factors
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Juvenile Delinquency
KW - Juvenile Crime
KW - Adult Crime
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Violence Causes
KW - Crime Causes
KW - Delinquency Causes
KW - Literature Review
KW - Professional Criticism
KW - Intergenerational Transmission of Violence
Language: en |