Citation
Beaver, Kevin M.; Shutt, J. Eagle; Boutwell, Brian B.; Ratchford, Marie; Roberts, Kathleen; & Barnes, J. C. (2009). Genetic and environmental influences on levels of self-control and delinquent peer affiliation: Results from a longitudinal sample of adolescent twins. Criminal Justice and Behavior. vol. 36 (1) pp. 41-60Abstract
Despite the fact that low self-control and exposure to delinquent peers are two of the most robust and consistent predictors of crime, delinquency, and antisocial behavior, much remains unknown about what causes self-control to develop and what causes youths to befriend antisocial peers. This study estimated the relative effects of environmental and genetic factors on levels of self-control and contact with delinquent peers in a sample of twins from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). DeFries-Fulker analysis of the Add Health data revealed that both self-control and contact with drug-using friends were influenced by genetic factors and the nonshared environment, whereas the shared environment exhibited relatively small and inconsistent effects. Implications for self-control theory and social learning theory are discussed.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0093854808326992Keyword(s)
Genetic Crime & delinquencyReference Type
Journal ArticleJournal Title
Criminal Justice and BehaviorAuthor(s)
Beaver, Kevin M.Shutt, J. Eagle
Boutwell, Brian B.
Ratchford, Marie
Roberts, Kathleen
Barnes, J. C.