Ingredients for Criminality Require Genes, Temperament, and Psychopathic Personality

• Genes, temperament, and psychopathy are the root ingredients of criminality.
• These ingredients underscore the importance of a wide range of topics including crime.
• We encourage further research on the basic constitutional foundation of criminality.

Background and methodRecent and emerging research demonstrates the importance of genetic factors, temperament, and psychopathic personality for understanding criminality especially more severe forms of it. Drawing on diverse interdisciplinary research, we review recent studies in behavior genetics, child development, psychology, social work, criminology, and other areas that bear on serious criminality.ResultsWe suggest that genes, temperament, and psychopathic personality are the root ingredients of criminality and underscore the importance of a wide range of topics including neurobehavioral disorders, personality disorder, aggression, violence, and crime.ConclusionSimilar to debates in psychology and psychiatry, we encourage further research on the basic constitutional foundation of criminality as a means to guide theory and research in criminology and criminal justice.