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The Genetic and Psychophysiological Basis of Antisocial Behavior: Implications for Counseling and Therapy
Author(s) -
RAINE ADRIAN,
DUNKIN JENNIFER J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of counseling and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1556-6676
pISSN - 0748-9633
DOI - 10.1002/j.1556-6676.1990.tb01429.x
Subject(s) - psychology , antisocial personality disorder , psychophysiology , criminal behavior , developmental psychology , social psychology , poison control , injury prevention , neuroscience , medicine , environmental health
The notion that crime may have a genetic and biological basis has been resisted due to the assumption that this view necessitates a deterministic attitude to crime. This article argues that this assumption is unwarranted, and that an understanding of the genetic and psychophysiological basis of crime and antisocial behavior has important implications for counselors dealing with antisocial individuals. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors suggests that environmental changes may reduce the expression of any genetic predisposition. Psychophysiological factors interact with social factors in producing antisocial behavior, and recent psychophysiological studies have identified enhanced attentional ability in antisocial individuals that can be capitalized on by counselors in diverting clients from an antisocial way of life.