Abstract
The idea of individual responsibility for action is central to our conception of what it is to be a person. Behavioural genetic research may seem to call into question the idea of individual responsibility with possible implications for the criminal justice system. These implications will depend on the understandings of the various agencies and professional groups involved in responding to violent and anti-social behaviour, and, the result of negotiations between them over resulting practice. The paper considers two kinds of approaches to the question of responsibility and ‘criminal genes’ arising from a sociological and philosophical perspective respectively. One is to consider the social context and possible practical implications of research into ‘criminal genes’ which will later be examined through interviews and discussions with a range of experts including lawyers and social workers. A second and different kind of approach is to ask whether the findings of behavioural genetics ought to have implications for attributions of responsibility. Issues of genetic influence are central to both approaches.
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Notes
For a discussion of the issues surrounding children on the National DNA Database in UK see Levitt and Tomasini (2006) ‘Bar-coded children: an exploration of issues around the inclusion of children on the England and Wales National DNA database’. Genomics Society and Policy 2:1 available at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fss/journals/gsp/vol2no1/levittabstract.htm
Because females have two copies of the X chromosome low-low genotype is rare. Antisocial behaviour, especially convictions for violence, is also lower in females so the cases where females with the genotype had also been severely maltreated were too small for comparable analyses. However, the authors did find a link for low-MAOA activity and maltreatment with conduct disorder (assessed using a standard diagnosis) [5].
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The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged. This work was part of the programme of the ESRC Research Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics.
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Levitt, M., Manson, N. My Genes Made Me Do It? The Implications of Behavioural Genetics for Responsibility and Blame. Health Care Anal 15, 33–40 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-006-0038-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-006-0038-0