title: The Blunt-Edged Sword: Genetic Explanations of Misbehavior Neither Mitigate Nor Aggravate Punishment.
abstract: Links between genetic variants and negatively valenced behaviors have stimulated intense commentary about the implications for responsibility and punishment. Previous research has suggested that behavioral genetic evidence of a predisposition to negative behaviors has modest to no impact on mitigation of punishment, at least for serious crimes. Data are presented on the effect of such evidence in a representative sample of the general population (n=640) asked to consider 3 vignettes describing lesser offenses, dealt with in less-formal adjudicatory settings and in everyday life. Genetic explanations of behavior had no effect on the severity of the punishment selected in any case, in contrast to the egregiousness of the behavior and respondents' beliefs in free-will. Public views of genetic influences on behavior may be less deterministic and more nuanced than is often thought, or genetic explanations may simply not have the salience for decision makers that is frequently attributed to them.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Scurich is assistant professor in the Departments of Psychology & Social Behavior, and Criminology, Law & Society, and in the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scurich
authors.affiliation: Dr. Appelbaum is the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine & Law, and Director, Center for Research on the Ethical, Legal, & Social Implications of Psychiatric, Neurologic & Behavioral Genetics, at Columbia University, New York.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Appelbaum
keywords: behavioral genetics; evidence; neuroscience; punishment; responsibility