Genetic Roots of Violence
* Many of us in law enforcement who see escalating violence on a daily basis are most concerned about claims of a genetic origin of this problem (Dec. 30). We believe that scientists must be objective and comprehensive in their investigations, rather than reaching their conclusions from a skewed database that supports popular stereotypes.
For example, the article points out that African Americans, “who make up about 12% of the population, account for 45% of all arrests for violent crimes such as homicide, rape and robbery.” Since black Americans are of African descent, scientists must examine the historical record of the largely homogeneous people of Africa before rushing to conclusions about genetics and violence.
Pre-colonial African societies were so remarkably nonviolent and crime free that there was not even a West African word for “jail.” To classical writers, such as Homer and his successors, black Africans were the most just, humane and peaceful people in the world. To medieval Arab travelers like Ibn Battuta, peace and order prevailed in West Africa and no one needed to fear “brigands, thieves or ravishers.”
If unmixed Africans have no history of gratuitous violence, it would behoove scientists to attribute the rage of their descendants not to an alleged genetic predisposition, but the racist and hostile conditions that met black people when they were transplanted to the New World, and which have not abated since.
LEGRAND H. CLEGG II
Compton City Attorney
* There are many “theories” and “explanations” of violent crime and criminal behavior, and it seems to be clear that there are many factors that may trigger and contribute to them. Being a social scientist, I maintain that sociological factors such as opportunity structure, income distribution, political power relations, population diversity, race relations and traditions (e.g., gun culture) have a strong impact on violence. These kinds of factors can account for differences in violent crime rates among various societies. However, they have a more limited ability to explain differences in the violent behavior of individuals who are living under similar social conditions. If we want to understand violent behavior on the individual level, various biological, psychological and genetic factors have to be explored.
Genetic research carries some ethical problems. Researchers should beware of not reaching at the conclusion that crime is committed by “born criminals” as it was claimed by some criminologists in the 19th Century. In fact one of the concerns of the critics of genetic research is that violent offenders would be labeled as “inferior” to others. Nevertheless, we should continue all avenues of scientific research, because the more we know about what kind of conditions bring what kind of people to behave violently, the more chance we will have to reduce violent crime.
DAVID SHICHOR
Professor, Department of Criminal Justice
Cal State San Bernardino
* If there are genetic underpinnings in the matter of human violence, so be it--and by all means, let the research continue so corrective measures can be recommended.
It seems like too many things these days are proclaimed as racist, whether it’s an involuntary blink or nod, a T-shirt inscription, a measure to halt illegal immigration or the hiring or political appointment of a non-minority. But when such outcries are carried to the extreme and the cadre of thought police say stop your studies of genetic links to bad behavior, then it’s time to do exactly the opposite and let the chips fall where they may.
NORMAN JACOBSON
Los Angeles
