A rapidly burgeoning population in China has caused political, social, and economic ramifications, which have both positively and negatively affected the country and the world. Chinese government officials are thus researching the underlying causes for this population growth, and are attempting to resolve overpopulation issues. In much the same way, American lawmakers are resorting to scientific studies to explain why the United States’ prisons are so crowded. Researchers have developed and tested several theories as to why criminals exhibit antisocial behaviors and, ultimately, end up in prison. Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that biological, environmental, and habitual factors can dispose individuals to antisocial behavior and
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For example, Adiran Raine, a professor of criminology, psychiatry, and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has discovered a strong correlation between brain functioning and crime rates. The prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are two portions of the brain that are responsible for regulating feelings and instincts, and generating emotions, respectively. Raine’s study found that criminals, as a group, have “…much poorer functioning in the [prefrontal cortex] region of the brain” (Gross 3). Moreover, he discovered that criminals, including psychopathic individuals, have amygdala that are “…reduced in volume by eighteen percent…” (Gross 5). The strong relationship between this type of brain functioning and criminal behavior hints at the influence biological factors have on individual’s inherent tendency to commit crimes. Lead exposure, which can change an individual’s biological chemistry, also makes a person more susceptible to crime. Excessive lead exposure has an array of serious complications, including death, but studies show that even modest exposure to lead can “…severely damage the cognitive development of children…” (Mendel 1). Furthermore, a 2008 study of over two hundred and fifty people found that “children with elevated levels of lead exposure…were significantly more likely to be arrested…for both violent and nonviolent crimes than children …show more content…
For example, childhood maltreatment is highly correlated with criminal behavior. A study that followed over fifteen hundred individuals from childhood to adulthood found that “…being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent, as an adult by 28 percent, and for a violent crime by 30 percent” (Widom and Maxfield 1). This staggering information suggests that violence begets violence; in other words, “…a childhood history of physical abuse predisposes the survivor to violence in later years…” (Widom and Maxifeld 1). Besides maltreatment, a low level of education is a risk factor for crime. One study found that “…about 75 percent of America’s state prison inmates, almost 59 percent of federal inmates, and 69 percent of jail inmates did not complete high school…” (“The Danger of a Poor Education” 1). Theoretically, then, improving education and increasing schooling will lead to lower crime rates. In addition, “…growing up in an adverse environment increases the likelihood that a young person will become involved in serious criminal activity during adolescence…” (McCord, Widom, Cromwell 89). In the 1990s, for instance, “…a quarter of all apprehended offenders in the entire United States were arrested in just five counties…[while] 84 percent of counties in the United States reported no juvenile homicides…” (McCord, Widom, Cromwell 90). The environment in which
For example, Adiran Raine, a professor of criminology, psychiatry, and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has discovered a strong correlation between brain functioning and crime rates. The prefrontal cortex and the amygdala are two portions of the brain that are responsible for regulating feelings and instincts, and generating emotions, respectively. Raine’s study found that criminals, as a group, have “…much poorer functioning in the [prefrontal cortex] region of the brain” (Gross 3). Moreover, he discovered that criminals, including psychopathic individuals, have amygdala that are “…reduced in volume by eighteen percent…” (Gross 5). The strong relationship between this type of brain functioning and criminal behavior hints at the influence biological factors have on individual’s inherent tendency to commit crimes. Lead exposure, which can change an individual’s biological chemistry, also makes a person more susceptible to crime. Excessive lead exposure has an array of serious complications, including death, but studies show that even modest exposure to lead can “…severely damage the cognitive development of children…” (Mendel 1). Furthermore, a 2008 study of over two hundred and fifty people found that “children with elevated levels of lead exposure…were significantly more likely to be arrested…for both violent and nonviolent crimes than children …show more content…
For example, childhood maltreatment is highly correlated with criminal behavior. A study that followed over fifteen hundred individuals from childhood to adulthood found that “…being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent, as an adult by 28 percent, and for a violent crime by 30 percent” (Widom and Maxfield 1). This staggering information suggests that violence begets violence; in other words, “…a childhood history of physical abuse predisposes the survivor to violence in later years…” (Widom and Maxifeld 1). Besides maltreatment, a low level of education is a risk factor for crime. One study found that “…about 75 percent of America’s state prison inmates, almost 59 percent of federal inmates, and 69 percent of jail inmates did not complete high school…” (“The Danger of a Poor Education” 1). Theoretically, then, improving education and increasing schooling will lead to lower crime rates. In addition, “…growing up in an adverse environment increases the likelihood that a young person will become involved in serious criminal activity during adolescence…” (McCord, Widom, Cromwell 89). In the 1990s, for instance, “…a quarter of all apprehended offenders in the entire United States were arrested in just five counties…[while] 84 percent of counties in the United States reported no juvenile homicides…” (McCord, Widom, Cromwell 90). The environment in which