Alba Domínguez Romano

AWT 3: Criminal behaviour

Criminal behaviour has been studied for a long time, concluding that there is not only
one factor that affects this human manner, having genetics and environment at the
top of the list. But, to what extent do these concepts alter criminal demeanour? Can
one be separated from the other? Both texts discuss the nature of these concepts from
different perspectives.

The first passage argues the environment is the main factor that concludes whether a
person may present dishonest manners. I personally feel that most people subscribe to
this idea, as many examples have been shown to us through the criminal background
of diverse cases. As an example in the text, we have prisons, where it is stated by the
author that the convicts learn further criminal manners.

In contrast, the second text proposes that progenitors are the key to the behaviour of
the offspring, as they have their genetics and condition the surroundings they develop
in. Whilst the environmental impact can't be measured, neither the genes can be
isolated. I would agree to a certain extent with this idea, as both factors influence the
outcome of the behaviour of the descendants. The percentage of possibilities of having
criminal behaviour with a progenitor with a criminal record is higher, being backed up
by various scientific investigations.

In conclusion, it could be argued that the conditions the progeny live in may influence
to an extent unlawful demeanour. However, if the children are taken from this setting,
according to trials, these would have a higher percentage of becoming delinquents,
stating by itself that genetics is the main determinant of this behaviour.