There is an ongoing debate whether criminal behavior is primarily caused by genetic factors or by environmental circumstances. While some individuals believe that a person’s genetic makeup plays a significant role in criminal tendencies, others argue that the environment in which a person is raised has a stronger influence. In my view, environmental factors such as upbringing and social conditions are more likely to drive individuals to commit crimes.
Genetic factors may be a reason for some crimes. For example, many famous criminals have antisocial personality disorder; individuals cannot feel guilt nor compassion, which is why people can perform crimes. Sociopathy may be inherited through DNA from ancestors to descendants. If a person’s relatives suffered from similar mental illness, there is a high probability that the person will take after the same illness. However, even if the individual is prone to commit a crime, there are variety of ways to prevent crime cases to happen such as receiving mental therapy, rise in healthy circumstances where human beings can built strong moral values, and sense empathy.
On the other hand, circumstances can lead individuals to commit many crimes. Circumstances have a significant impact for human beings personal growth and development People may have an upbringing in unsafe place where it is a necessary to struggle for survival. In order to protect themselves, people may commit crimes despite the moral dillemas. Their main goal will be surviving and many human beings are willing to abandon their moral principles for this. Growing in dangerous areas do not give people opportunities to sense the feeling of mercy, kindness, and empathy, whereas people who inherited mental disease which increases the probability of making crimes but growing in safe place do have these opportunities. Individuals who witnessed many crimes will not have an understanding of basic moral principles: what is good and what is bad, which is why circumstances may be the primary reason of people’s crime.
In conclusion, while genetics may play a role in criminal tendencies, I believe that environmental factors are more influential in determining whether someone will be involved in criminal activities. Circumstances such as poverty, lack of education, and famine are more likely to lead people down a criminal path than any inherit traits.