Environmental Factors That Influence Deviant Behavior

An individual’s "genetic" characteristics are essential, which lays down a fundamental framework guided by propensities of specific courses of action. It is a theory that someone may be born with the genetic characteristic for criminal traits passed down from generation than average intelligence; however, the findings that criminality appears in generations of families does not prove that criminality is inherited or is the product of a hereditary defect. (Jones, 2005) I think all parents teach good morals and attitudes to their children; therefore, I believe the environment has a tremendous role in how criminality trait would be expressed. I believe the environmental and social factors cause or influence deviant behavior.

According to Richard L. Dugdale, he conducted a study in 1875 that imposed that individuals who grow up in an environment where criminal activities occurred tend to produce habits which may become hereditary. (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) If people are considered rationalist who believes in freewill and rationally choose to commit crimes, and their crimes are evidence of their rational choices how can a theory say that genetically people inherited criminal traits? "Modern bio-criminologists explore how biological factors, in conjunction with environmental factors, lead to the development of certain traits

that are linked to antisocial behavior" (Bohm & Vogel, 2011, p. 42). Our society is built on peer pressures, association, and environmental risk factors during childhood development that of socialization or the way a child is ‘taught’ how to act, which refers to the period of childhood development when children learn the rules and values of their society. (Genetic and Environmental, 2000) In my opinion, when people are around others that do not display moral ethics which contribute to biological factors to human behavior; the individual is subject to adopt antisocial behaviors such as aggression, crime, violence, and delinquency. Some individual's behavior is found to have a genetic link; however, this does not mean the behavior is inevitable or unalterable. (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) For example, a juvenile joins a gang; yet, neither mother nor father has ever been in a gang, and everyone knows that gang activity is associated with the criminal activity; therefore, the juvenile's environment had more influence than parental guidance.

The behavior and parental influence will always impact a child’s life. Researchers have identified family risk factors as poverty, education, parenting practices, and family structure as an environmental issue for criminal activity. (Jones, 2005) Criminal behavior is a product of a complex interaction between biology and environment or social conditions; therefore, what is inherited is not criminal behavior; instead, it’s the way a person responds to their environment. (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) Another prime example would be when an individual is incarcerated he or she may go inside prison as a small-time offender; however, he or she when returning to society after a prison environment may become a more hardened criminal. Back when our ancestor had houses filled with children eight or more there were enough children in the homes to play among one another; however, generations have changed, whereas children are born to drug and alcohol addictive parents so; therefore, the children are left raising themselves, and they’re a product of their own environment. This is why I believe a person predisposition of their criminal behavior is learned and defined as crime depends on an individual’s environment or social up bring.

(References)

Bohm, R.M., & Vogel, B.

L., (2011). A Primer on Crime & Delinquency (3rd Ed.). Belmont, CA Wadsworth Cengage Learning. p. 42. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www.betheluniversityonline.net/cps/default.aspx?SectionID=5980&tabid=

Genetic and Environmental (2000). Sociological and Environmental Factors of Criminal Behavior. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www1.udel.edu/chem/C465/senior/fall00/GeneticTesting/enviro.htm

Jones, C. M. (2005). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Criminal Behavior: Rochester Institute of Technology. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from

http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html