NCJ Number
110367
Journal
Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1986) Pages: 513-532
Date Published
1986
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study investigates the common-family environmental (CE), within-family environmental (WE), and hereditary (H) components of antisocial behavior and its correlates using a twin study design.
Abstract
The subjects are 265 adolescent twin pairs who reported in a mail survey on their antisocial behavior, deceitfulness, parental rejection (as perceived), anger, impulsiveness, and value placed on school achievement. These six variables are intercorrelated in two ways: between-families (twin pairs' sums) and within-families (twin pairs' differences). The former covariance structure captures the twins' resemblances; the latter, the twins' differences in behavior. LISREL is used to model the observed relationships using structural equations containing CE, WE, and H factors. The best-fitting model requires only H and WE factors to explain the variables' relationships. Within this population, delinquent behavior is unaffected by CE influences such as social class, child rearing styles, parental attitudes, parental religion, and other factors equally affecting the twins. The principal genetic correlates of delinquency appear to be deceitfulness and temperamental traits. (Publisher abstract)