Gender, genetic risk, and criminal behavior.
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.
Vaske
Jamie
J
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA. jvaske@email.wcu.edu
Wright
John Paul
JP
Boisvert
Danielle
D
Beaver
Kevin Michael
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D055815:Young Adult