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Kiera Cullen
Mr. Price
AP English, Period 5
15 December 2015
Criminal Research Paper
Watch the news and one will see people going to prison for various crimes. Crime is
something that fills the world no matter the age, culture, or location. It is something that causes
so much negativity and problems in society. Despite the countless number of laws that prohibit
criminal activity, crimes still occur. Crimes range anywhere from cheating on taxes all the way
to murder. Crimes are something that everyone has the ability to do, but most people refrain from
such things. With that said, why is it that a small handful of people deem that it is okay for them
to break the laws and do hurtful things to society? What makes a criminal a criminal? Different
people think different things on this topic. Some believe it is primarily genetics while others
believe it is their environment that molds their behavior. While considering both sides, it is quite
evident that nature and nurture both play equal parts in creating a criminal.
Nature has been accepted as the catalyst of crime for many years. Environmental issues
were disregarded when it came to what caused crime. Nowadays psychologists and criminalists
agree that what drives a person to criminal behavior is really complex and complicated
mechanism, involving a lot of factors (Miller 1). Overtime, nurture has earned its credibility.
Ultimately, they both play a role in contributing to crimes. The human mind is inside the most
complex organ known to man. It will take time to fully understand how it works. The reasons
behind criminal behavior can vary a lot in each particular case, but still they can be grouped in

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two main categories genetics and environment (Miller 1). Both cause criminals to emerge in
society.
Nature is what comes naturally to someone, so this concept is referring to genetics. It is
widely believed that genetics greatly affect a person's personality and actions. Criminals are
believed to have genetics that make them more prone than most to commit harmful acts. There
has been many studies conducted that look at criminals and their parents to find any genetic
correlations with crime. For example, a lot of psychologists were insisting that the only reason
is genetics. They even considered that a persons inclination to crime could be measured
according to the parents mental condition, i.e. if they had some even minor mental problems
theirs son/daughter was more likely to become a criminal (Miller 1). This proposes a clear point
that since a parent had mental problems, their child was more likely to become a criminal due to
mental instability. Genes help construct personality and personality drives behavior within
individuals, because it is the major motivational element (Miller 1). Genetics pass along the bad
genes, leaving the child at an unfair disadvantage.Genetics often times pass down genes that
make people have severe anger and depression in some cases. Intense emotions are what causes
people to make irrational decisions.
Nurture is the second part that contributes to criminal activity. Psychologists have
researched this topic and found how nurture is just as important as nature when deciding what
creates a criminal. As the time passed more and more researches and experiments were held and
modern approach to this question is that of course genetics is really important reason behind
criminal behaviour, but the environment is also as important as it (Miller 1). During a lifetime,
one can experience traumatic events that can impact them for the rest of their lives. Mentally

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scarring situations can drastically alter someones mental stability. There are many issues during
childhood that triggers criminal mindsets. For example, Financial problems, or starvation this
is especially common problem in third world countries. When a person has to struggle every day
just to get food to survive, the probability that they become thieves is high (Miller 1).Children
with parents who have extreme anger will generally be affected by the lack of love and end up in
prison at some point in their life. Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood
of arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent, and as an adult by 30 percent for a violent crime (Miller 1).
This proves that the way a child grows up will have huge impacts on what kind of a person they
turn out to be. Nurture is just as important as nature.
Nature can do all sorts of things to a human. Genes are past down from generation to
generation. On top of that, genes are sometimes damaged. Damaged genes can turn out to be a
big problem for ones life. They make it more likely for one to acquire mental illnesses such as
personality disorders. Personality traits and disorders have recently become essential in the
diagnosis of individuals with antisocial or criminal behavior (Acton 1). Genetically affected
personality traits serve as an unfair crime increaser. They cant control their genes and end up
with social disadvantages. They also point to the fact that children diagnosed with ADHD have
the inability to analyze and anticipate consequences or learn from their past behavior (Acton 1).
ADHD limits a persons ability to fully analyze a situation before they act on it. This genetic
illness makes it more likely for a person to commit crimes. The nature of a person greatly affects
their decisions. Researchers, have certainly come far in their progression, to the point where
there is a large consensus of the fact that genes do influence behavior to a certain extent (Acton
1). The nature of a human is what brings along criminal activity.

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Nurture is an influential part of a person's life that determines criminal activity. It has
been proven through many studies This includes the family the child is born and raised in, the
example parents and family can give them, the social status they have, education, etc (Acton 1).
Social status creates a long list of effects in ones life. Children growing up in a financially
unstable home typically do not do as well in school. They also live a rougher lifestyle and get
made fun of, when one is bullied because of it, they may easily become aggressors and fight
back against the whole society. (Acton 1). When they come from a family that is unstable, they
will live an unstable lifestyle. The bullying at school and a broken household is enough to make
one full of anger and resentment. The lack of love will cause one to hold hatred for an entire
society. Also, an individual may have purpose of criminal behavior if it addresses certain felt
needs (Acton 1). When someone grows up with a lot of needs unaccustomed for, they soon get
a twisted mindset that illegally will get them what they need. If they go hungry, they will start
with stealing food. After awhile the crimes will get bigger and bigger. So much negativity can
happen in ones life when they grow up in a bad environment.
Some people believe the environmental factors do not play a role in contributing to
criminal activity. There are people out there who believe genes are what wire a person,
environmental issues can not modify the core of oneself (Baron-Cohen 72). They wrongfully
believe that for there have been many studies proving how environment can have a direct effect
on one's life. Other people have the opposite view on this topic. They think that, genes are
irrelevant and that the environment is the only thing to have an impact on a criminal mind
(Ramsland 124). In reality, there have been studies of identical twins who grow up in different
environments, yet they still committed crimes in their adult lives.

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In conclusion, genetics and the environment both can help create a criminal. The nature
of a person is instilled into them before birth. They have no control over what genes are passed
down to them. Genetics are what forms ones personality and mindset on life. On the other hand,
nurture is able to change humans in a significant way. In some cases, nurture can override what
was previously implemented in ones mind if the scenarios are dramatic enough. It is quite clear
how these two concepts both contribute and have equal importance. Crime can not be tamed, but
it can be understood.
Works Cited

Miller, Lawrence. "Criminal Behavior." Criminal Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015
Acton, G. Scott. "Genetic and Environmental Influences on Criminal Behavior." Genes,
Environment, and Criminal Behavior. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Baron-Cohen, Simon. The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty. New York:
Basic, 2011. Print.
Ramsland, Katherine M. The Forensic Science of C.S.I. New York: Berkley Boulevard, 2001.
Print.
Sessions, Payton. "Nature vs. Nurture: The Debate on Psychological Development."
YouTube. YouTube, June-July 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
What Is Nature Vs Nurture. Dir. Maxson McDowell. YouTube. YouTube, Nov.-Dec.
2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.