Professor Kevin Beaver discovers link between genetic make-up and choice of delinquent peers
Published in some of the top journals in the field, Professor Kevin Beaver\'s research focuses on the intersection of biological, psychological, and sociological influences that are associated with delinquent and criminal behavior. In his groundbreaking study “Delinquent Peer Group Formation: Evidence of a Gene X Environment Correlation” published in the September Journal of Genetic Psychology, Beaver, et al. look at the association of a “measured gene and antisocial friendship formation” among adolescents.
Evidence has repeatedly shown that we all choose friends and put ourselves in environments, whether work, school, or social circles, that are in-sync with our own traits, beliefs, and behaviors. The importance of peer relationships and their associations with crime and delinquency have been well documented; however, the focus among researchers has been whether peer groups cause misbehavior or are the outcome of someone with “preexisting antisocial tendencies.” Until now there have been virtually no studies that look at the role a person\'s genetic make-up plays in peer relationships. The hugely significant findings of Beaver\'s study show that adolescent males with a certain gene type who come from high-risk families were much more likely to associate with delinquent peers. According to Beaver, “we now have genuine empirical evidence that the social and family environment in an adolescent\'s life can either exacerbate or blunt genetic effects." Learn more.
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