title: Genes in the dopaminergic system and delinquent behaviors across the life course: the role of social controls and risks.
abstract: This paper examines the interaction between social control and social risk mechanisms and genes within the dopaminergic system (DAT1 and DRD2) as related to serious and violent forms of delinquent behavior among adolescents and young adults. We use nine waves of data from the National Youth Survey Family Study to examine the relevance of protective or risky social factors at four social levels including school, neighborhood, friends, and family within the gene-environment interaction framework. We extend previous work in this area by providing a testable typology of gene-environment interactions derived from current theories in this area. We find consistent evidence that the associations between putatively risky genotypes and delinquent behavior are suppressed within protective social environments. We also provide some evidence that supports the differential susceptibility hypothesis for these outcomes. Our findings largely confirm the conclusions of previous work and continue to highlight the critical role of the social environment within candidate gene studies of complex behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado ; Department of Sociology, University of Colorado.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.affiliation: College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menard
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Development, Penn State University.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roettger
authors.affiliation: College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University.
authors.forename: Kelly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University.
authors.forename: Brian B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Boutwell
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smolen