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Genetic and Perinatal Factors in Violence

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Biological Contributions to Crime Causation

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 40))

Abstract

Aggressive and antisocial behaviors are persistent problems for our society. Understanding the etiology of such behavior has proved difficult at best. One of the issues currently facing researchers engaged in the etiological study of aggressive and antisocial behavior is the possibility that congenital factors may play a role in such behavior. These factors include genetic influences and pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal complications. If congenital factors are indeed an aspect in the etiology of some violent antisocial behavior, then the expectation arises that such factors, which affect children at the beginning of their lives, would result in individuals who would evidence persistent patterns of violent behavior. But are there individuals who are reliably violent? If not, then the search for congenital biological determinants of violence may be in vain.

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© 1988 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

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Mednick, S.A., Kandel, E. (1988). Genetic and Perinatal Factors in Violence. In: Moffitt, T.E., Mednick, S.A. (eds) Biological Contributions to Crime Causation. NATO ASI Series, vol 40. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2768-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2768-1_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7744-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2768-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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