Gender, genetic risk, and criminal behavior

Citation

Vaske, J.; Wright, J. P.; Boisvert, D.; & Beaver, K. M. (2011). Gender, genetic risk, and criminal behavior. Psychiatry Research. vol. 185 (3) pp. 376-381

Abstract

The threshold hypothesis asserts that the prevalence of offending is lower among females because females have a higher threshold for risk than males. As a result, females who do offend should exhibit greater concentrations of genetic and environmental risk than male offenders. In light of these statements, the current study examines the role of genetic factors in the etiology of female offending using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The results reveal that the genetic risk threshold is higher for females than for males. However, contrary to the threshold hypothesis, female offenders exhibit fewer genetic risks than male offenders.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.psychres.2010.07.044

Keyword(s)

Genetic

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Psychiatry Research

Author(s)

Vaske, J.
Wright, J. P.
Boisvert, D.
Beaver, K. M.

Year Published

2011

Volume Number

185

Issue Number

3

Pages

376-381

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2010.07.044

Reference ID

1488