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On the consequences of ignoring genetic influences in criminological research

Author

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  • Barnes, J.C.
  • Boutwell, Brian B.
  • Beaver, Kevin M.
  • Gibson, Chris L.
  • Wright, John P.

Abstract

Many criminological scholars explore the social causes of crime while giving little consideration to the possibility that genetic factors underlie the observed associations. Indeed, the standard social science method (SSSM) assumes genetic influences do not confound the association between X and Y. Yet, a nascent stream of evidence has questioned the validity of this approach by revealing many criminological variables are at least partially affected by genetic influences. As a result, a substantial proportion of the literature may be misspecified due to uncontrolled genetic factors. No effort has been made to directly estimate the extent to which genetic confounding has biased the associations presented in criminological studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Barnes, J.C. & Boutwell, Brian B. & Beaver, Kevin M. & Gibson, Chris L. & Wright, John P., 2014. "On the consequences of ignoring genetic influences in criminological research," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 471-482.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:42:y:2014:i:6:p:471-482
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2014.08.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beaver, Kevin M. & Connolly, Eric J. & Schwartz, Joseph A. & Al-Ghamdi, Mohammed Said & Kobeisy, Ahmed Nezar, 2013. "Genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change in levels of self-control," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 300-308.
    2. John P A Ioannidis, 2005. "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(8), pages 1-1, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nedelec, Joseph L. & Park, Insun & Silver, Ian A., 2016. "The effect of the maturity gap on delinquency and drug use over the life course: A genetically sensitive longitudinal design," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 84-99.
    2. Kavish, Nicholas & Helton, Jesse & Vaughn, Michael G. & Boutwell, Brian B., 2020. "The association of externalizing and internalizing problems with indicators of intelligence in a sample of at-risk children," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Botchkovar, Ekaterina & Marshall, Ineke Haen & Rocque, Michael & Posick, Chad, 2015. "The Importance of Parenting in the Development of Self-Control in Boys and Girls: Results from a Multinational Study of Youth," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 133-141.
    4. Bunch, Jackson M. & Iratzoqui, Amaia & Watts, Stephen J., 2018. "Child abuse, self-control, and delinquency: A general strain perspective," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 20-28.
    5. DeLisi, Matt & Vaughn, Michael G., 2015. "Ingredients for Criminality Require Genes, Temperament, and Psychopathic Personality," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 290-294.
    6. Jackson, Dylan B., 2016. "The link between poor quality nutrition and childhood antisocial behavior: A genetically informative analysis," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 13-20.
    7. Hoeben, Evelien M. & Meldrum, Ryan C. & Walker, D'Andre & Young, Jacob T.N., 2016. "The role of peer delinquency and unstructured socializing in explaining delinquency and substance use: A state-of-the-art review," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 108-122.
    8. Boutwell, Brian B. & Meldrum, Ryan C. & Petkovsek, Melissa A., 2017. "General intelligence in friendship selection: A study of preadolescent best friend dyads," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 30-35.
    9. Boutwell, Brian B. & Connolly, Eric J. & Barbaro, Nicole & Shackelford, Todd K. & Petkovsek, Melissa & Beaver, Kevin M., 2017. "On the genetic and environmental reasons why intelligence correlates with criminal victimization," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 155-166.
    10. Kevin M. Beaver & J. C. Barnes & Joseph A. Schwartz & Brian B. Boutwell, 2015. "Enlisting in the Military," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, April.
    11. McNeeley, Susan & Meldrum, Ryan Charles & Hoskin, Anthony W., 2018. "Low self-control and the adoption of street code values among young adults," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 118-126.
    12. Schwartz, Joseph A., 2017. "Long-term physical health consequences of perceived inequality: Results from a twin comparison design," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 184-192.
    13. Posick, Chad & Gould, Laurie A., 2015. "On the general relationship between victimization and offending: Examining cultural contingencies," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 195-204.
    14. Fox, Bryanna, 2017. "It's nature and nurture: Integrating biology and genetics into the social learning theory of criminal behavior," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 22-31.

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