Genes can influence criminal behavior in several ways. Genes affect the production of neurochemicals in the brain like monoamine oxidase (MAO), serotonin, and dopamine, which are associated with traits like aggression and impulsivity. Genes may also influence personality traits linked to criminality, like novelty-seeking, which some research has associated with a specific gene. Additionally, studies have found higher rates of personality disorders and other mental illnesses in prisoner populations, indicating genes may increase the risk of criminal behavior through disorders like antisocial personality disorder which have a genetic component.

1. Made by:
 Md: Mahmudul Islam (Shajal)
 Southeast University
 LL,B department
 Email: MISHAJAL3369@GMAIL.COM
 F.B: Onirban Shajal

2. Relation Between
Genetics & Criminal Behavior

3. What is genetics?
 : Genetics is defined as hereditary
characteristics and properties, or to the
study of such characteristics. Generally
Genetics deals with the molecular
structure and function of genes, gene
behavior in the context of a cell or
organism patterns of inheritance from
parent to offspring, and gene
distribution, variation and change in
populations, such as through Genome.

4. What is criminal behavior?
 Criminal behavior refers to
conduct of an offender that
leads to and including the
commission of an unlawful act. A
trial court may utilize criminal
behavior shown by a
preponderance of the evidence
to enhance a sentence without
violating federal or state due
process.

5.  To fully understand the of how
genes and the environment
influence criminal behavior, one
must first know how criminal
behavior is defined. determining
what constitutes criminal behavior
can envelope a wide variety of
activities and for that
reason, researchers tend to focus
on the wider context of antisocial
behavior.

6.  1)First is equating it with criminality and
delinquency, which both involve engaging in
criminal acts.
 2)Secondly, they advise individuals to define
antisocial behavior is through criteria used to
diagnose certain personality disorders. More
specifically, they mean those personality
disorders, such as Antisocial Personality
Disorder, which is associated with an increased
risk in criminal activity.
 3) The final measure suggested for defining
antisocial behavior is by examining personality
traits that may be influential in the criminal
behavior of individuals. Traits such as

7. How gene effect in brain?
 Neurochemicals
are responsible
for the activation of behavioral
patterns and tendencies in specific
areas of the brain. As seen in the
Brunner et al. study, there have
been attempts to determine the
role
of
neurochemicals
in
influencing criminal or antisocial
behavior. Included in the list of
neurochemicals already cited by
researchers
are
monoamine
oxidase
(MOA), epinephrine, norepinephrin
e, serotonin, and dopamine.

8. Relation Between
Genetics &Criminal
Behavior
 Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an
enzyme that has been shown to be
related to antisocial behavior.
 Serotonin is a neurochemical that
plays an important role in the
personality traits of
depression, anxiety, and bipolar
disorder. It is also involved with
brain development and a disorder in
this system could lead to an
increase in aggressiveness and
impulsivity .
 Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in
the brain that is associated with
pleasure and is also one of the
neurotransmitters that is chiefly
associated with aggression.

9. Criminal Behavior and Personality
Disorder:
 In addition to the research showing that the gene
responsible for production of monoamine oxidase has
a possible link to criminality, some evidence has also
shown a possible link between other genes. One area
of personality research in molecular genetics that has
received a lot of attention is the trait of noveltyseeking, and novelty seeking is a personality trait
often associated with criminality. Research has
indicated that the single DRD4 gene may account for
10% of the genetic variance in relation to noveltyseeking (Sloan, 2000). This conclusion is highly
controversial because in subsequent studies there
has been both replication of the original findings, and
failure to replicate in other studies. It seems most
molecular genetic approaches in relating heritability of
personality characteristics such as criminality to a
single gene frequently suffer from failures in
replication.

10.  In addition to ADHD, CD, and ODD, other disorders
have shown to influence criminality as well. Studies
have shown that there is a higher occurrence of
disorders such as schizophrenia, major depressive
disorder, bipolar disorder, just to name a few. It is
possible that having these personality disorders gives
one a greater predisposition toward criminal behavior.
A Swedish study found that the occurrence of major
mental disorders in prisoners to be 5%, as well as a
20% occurrence of personality disorders
(Rasmussen, 1999). Other studies have given
different values for the occurrence, but in most cases
the research agrees that there is a much higher
incidence of these mental disorders in those who

11. THANK YOU