This article describes biological influences on criminality. It presents illustrative data suggesting a biological sex difference in criminality and heritable differences in this trait among individuals. Next, methods of isolating environmental influences are described, including shared environmental effects, gene
x environment interactions, and nonshared environmental effects. Using research designs that include just one level of genetic relatedness (e.g., full siblings) is scientifically a poor choice. Using environment-friendly behavior genetic research designs is both proper and would offer many avenues for environmental analysis.
Key words Criminality - Environment - Heritability - Nurture
This article is based on a paper, presented at the National Institutes of Health Workshop on Biosocial Models of Demographic Behavior, 12 October 1994.