scholarly journals Genetics and Crime: Integrating New Genomic Discoveries Into Psychological Research About Antisocial Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wertz ◽  
A. Caspi ◽  
D. W. Belsky ◽  
A. L. Beckley ◽  
L. Arseneault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Polygenic Risk ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Life Course Persistent

Drawing on psychological and sociological theories of crime causation, we tested the hypothesis that genetic risk for low educational attainment (assessed via a genome-wide polygenic score) is associated with criminal offending. We further tested hypotheses of how polygenic risk relates to the development of antisocial behavior from childhood through adulthood. Across the Dunedin and Environmental Risk (E-Risk) birth cohorts of individuals growing up 20 years and 20,000 kilometers apart, education polygenic scores predicted risk of a criminal record with modest effects. Polygenic risk manifested during primary schooling in lower cognitive abilities, lower self-control, academic difficulties, and truancy, and it was associated with a life-course-persistent pattern of antisocial behavior that onsets in childhood and persists into adulthood. Crime is central in the nature-nurture debate, and findings reported here demonstrate how molecular-genetic discoveries can be incorporated into established theories of antisocial behavior. They also suggest that improving school experiences might prevent genetic influences on crime from unfolding.

Stressful Life Events and Self-Control: Testing Gene x Environment Interaction with a Polygenic Approach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yayouk Willems ◽  
Jouke-Jan Hottenga ◽  
Lannie Ligthart ◽  
Gonneke WIllemsen ◽  
Dorret Boomsma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Traits ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Life Stressors ◽  
Control Problems ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Polygenic Risk ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Low Self Control

Background: Ill decisions and reckless behaviors due to low self-control are concurrently and longitudinally costly, and revealing possible factors contributing to individual differences in self-control is necessary. It is hypothesized that genetically sensitivity interacts with life stressors in the prediction of the development of low self-control (gene environment interaction), yet attempts to test this hypothesis mostly concern candidate gene studies yielding inconclusive results. The goal of this research was to bring findings from large scale gene identification studies into the developmental psychology framework, taking the polygenic nature of complex traits into account. Methods: Using data of a large population-based twin sample, we tested whether polygenic risk scores for self-control problems – based on the most recent ADHD GWAS – predict self-control problems in adults, and whether this polygenic risk scores interact with the presence of environmental stressors. Results: While polygenic scores and life stressors significantly predicted low self-control, we did not find a significant interaction effect. Conclusions: Empirically, finding statistical evidence for this hypothesis remains a challenge, and more research is needed to investigate how to better detect G x E.

Rethinking self-control and crime: Are all forms of impulsivity criminogenic?

2020 ◽  
pp. 147737082090299
Author(s):  
Brynn E. Wendel ◽  
Michael Rocque ◽  
Chad Posick
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Criminological Research ◽  
The Future ◽  
Dysfunctional Impulsivity

Traditionally, criminological research on impulsivity and crime assumes impulsivity is a uniform construct that is positively related to deviant behavior. However, psychological research on impulsivity indicates that the construct may have multiple forms, which vary in their relationship to antisocial behavior. One possibility that few studies have examined is whether some forms of impulsivity are unrelated, or negatively related, to antisocial behavior. This study uses Dickman’s (1990) functional and dysfunctional impulsivity scales and finds that dysfunctional impulsivity is a better predictor of crime than functional impulsivity, but does not differ for substance use or school deviance. These results highlight ways that impulsivity measures can be refined in the future.

Polygenic Scores Predict the Development of Alcohol and Nicotine Use Problems from Adolescence through Young Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Deak ◽  
D. Angus Clark ◽  
Mengzhen Liu ◽  
C. Emily Durbin ◽  
William G. Iacono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Predictive Utility ◽  
Problematic Use ◽  
Discovery Sample ◽  
Polygenic Scores

Objective: Molecular genetic studies of alcohol and nicotine have identified many genome-wide loci. We examined the predictive utility of drinking and smoking polygenic scores (PGS) for alcohol and nicotine use from late childhood to early adulthood, substance-specific versus broader-liability PGS effects, and if PGS performance varied between consumption versus pathological use. Methods: Latent growth curve models with structured residuals were used to assess the predictive utility of drinks per week and regular smoking PGS for measures of alcohol and nicotine consumption and problematic use from age 14 to 34. PGSs were generated from the largest discovery sample for alcohol and nicotine use to date (i.e., GSCAN), and examined for associations with alcohol and nicotine use in the Minnesota Twin Family Study (N=3225).Results: The drinking PGS was a significant predictor of age 14 problematic alcohol use and increases in problematic use during young adulthood. The smoking PGS was a significant predictor for all nicotine use outcomes. After adjusting for the effects of both PGSs, the smoking PGS demonstrated incremental predictive utility for most alcohol use outcomes and remained a significant predictor of nicotine use trajectories. Conclusions: Higher PGS for drinking and smoking were associated with more problematic levels of substance use longitudinally. The smoking PGS seems to capture both nicotine-specific and non-specific genetic liability for substance use, and may index genetic risk for broader externalizing behavior. Validation of PGS within longitudinal designs may have important clinical implications should future studies support the clinical utility of PGS for substance use disorders.

The Developmental Taxonomy

2018 ◽  
pp. 148-158
Author(s):  
Tara Renae McGee ◽  
Terrie E. Moffitt
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Adult Onset ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Developmental Taxonomy ◽  
Offending Behavior ◽  
Life Course Persistent ◽  
The Life Course

This chapter considers whether the peak in the age–crime curve is a function of active offenders committing more crime during adolescence or a function of more individuals actively offending in the peak years. It discusses the two main and most empirically tested typological groupings: the life-course persistent group and the adolescence limited group. The chapter then reviews the evidence on a theoretically interesting grouping: those who abstain from antisocial and offending behavior. It focuses on the debate regarding whether those who were originally thought to recover from early-onset antisocial behavior have childhood-limited antisocial behavior or exhibit low-level chronic antisocial behavior across the life course. Finally, the chapter discusses how the theory it introduces accounts for adult-onset offending and considers whether there are gender differences that need to be accounted for by the theory.

A bigger brain for a more complex environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 803-816
Author(s):  
Umberto di Porzio
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Birth Canal ◽  
Newborn Brain ◽  
Neuronal Interactions ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe environment increased complexity required more neural functions to develop in the hominin brains, and the hominins adapted to the complexity by developing a bigger brain with a greater interconnection between its parts. Thus, complex environments drove the growth of the brain. In about two million years during hominin evolution, the brain increased three folds in size, one of the largest and most complex amongst mammals, relative to body size. The size increase has led to anatomical reorganization and complex neuronal interactions in a relatively small skull. At birth, the human brain is only about 20% of its adult size. That facilitates the passage through the birth canal. Therefore, the human brain, especially cortex, develops postnatally in a rich stimulating environment with continuous brain wiring and rewiring and insertion of billions of new neurons. One of the consequence is that in the newborn brain, neuroplasticity is always turned “on” and it remains active throughout life, which gave humans the ability to adapt to complex and often hostile environments, integrate external experiences, solve problems, elaborate abstract ideas and innovative technologies, store a lot of information. Besides, hominins acquired unique abilities as music, language, and intense social cooperation. Overwhelming ecological, social, and cultural challenges have made the human brain so unique. From these events, as well as the molecular genetic changes that took place in those million years, under the pressure of natural selection, derive the distinctive cognitive abilities that have led us to complex social organizations and made our species successful.

scholarly journals Educational Attainment and Personality Are Genetically Intertwined

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1631-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Mõttus ◽  
Anu Realo ◽  
Uku Vainik ◽  
Jüri Allik ◽  
Tõnu Esko
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Psychological Traits ◽  
Polygenic Scores

Heritable variance in psychological traits may reflect genetic and biological processes that are not necessarily specific to these particular traits but pertain to a broader range of phenotypes. We tested the possibility that the personality domains of the five-factor model and their 30 facets, as rated by people themselves and their knowledgeable informants, reflect polygenic influences that have been previously associated with educational attainment. In a sample of more than 3,000 adult Estonians, education polygenic scores (EPSs), which are interpretable as estimates of molecular-genetic propensity for education, were correlated with various personality traits, particularly from the neuroticism and openness domains. The correlations of personality traits with phenotypic educational attainment closely mirrored their correlations with EPS. Moreover, EPS predicted an aggregate personality trait tailored to capture the maximum amount of variance in educational attainment almost as strongly as it predicted the attainment itself. We discuss possible interpretations and implications of these findings.

Volition in Sports

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Beckmann ◽  
Madison Ehmann ◽  
Tom-Nicolas Kossak ◽  
Benedikt Perl ◽  
and Wiebke Hähl
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Affective Neuroscience ◽  
Psychological Skills ◽  
Psychological Skills Training ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Sport And Exercise

Abstract. Volition is an essential component of sport and exercise. It comprises self-regulation processes complementing motivation to facilitate successful action. Therefore, sport psychological interventions or psychological skills training largely involve volition. Essentially, three theoretical approaches to volition have stimulated sport psychological research: the theory of action control, the Rubicon model of action phases, and the resource depletion model. These three models will be outlined and evaluated with regard to their contribution to sport psychological research. Despite their contributions, research on the exact mechanisms underlying volition is still in its infancy. Based on new developments involving affective neuroscience and self-control success, potential mechanisms are suggested. Subsequently, we discuss how these developments can advance the aforementioned well-established theories.

Toward a Masturbation Ethic

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Sanford
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Research ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Moral Vision ◽  
Human Relationships ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Intended Purpose

An appropriate Christian masturbation ethic will be informed by a distinctive moral vision, historical viewpoints, psychological research, and contemporary issues. The Christian scriptures do not prescribe a masturbation ethic, but rather nurture a particular moral vision that has as its final telos right relationships both with God and among persons. Historical viewpoints, however, have been based on misinformation about human relationships and have reflected a primary concern for procreation. In light of contemporary research, an appropriate masturbation ethic must consider both the prevalence of masturbation and the connection between masturbation and fantasy. Contemporary issues relating to masturbation include topics such as lust, self control, guilt, alleged benefits of masturbation, and God's intended purpose for sex. Although an appropriate masturbation ethic cannot be prescriptive, it will contain elements of both self control and freedom.

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