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Keely Herzog

Mrs. Jenkins

English Period 4

27 April 2020

The Man Behind the Mask

If the years of watching police and mystery television have taught me anything, it is that

the villain is not always who people expect. A criminal could be the youngest, smallest, or least

intelligent out of a group, but the man behind the mask always has motive to be a violent

offender. Take Shawn for example, a 16-year-old, scrawny, middle class boy from Los Altos,

California who attempted to stab his father to death while he was sleeping. Or even 15-year-old

Jose, a gang member charged with the murder of an immigrant and attempted murder of another.

But, where did this capability for evil and violence come from?

Since I was a kid, my parents instilled a sense of fear in me, constantly repeating sayings

like “always have an exit strategy”, “never go anywhere alone”, and the classic “do not talk to

strangers”. But, I always knew their instructions came from a place of love. With the rise of

technology and national news at their fingertips, it is understandable that they would want their

child to be aware of the dangers. However, the fear fostered a sense of curiosity. If everyone was

capable of evil, like my parents warned, what makes me different than any inmate in a prison?

How did a criminal’s life path veer so off from mine? More importantly, was I one wrong step

away from a 6x8 cell? My fascination for criminology stretched further with every warning,

leading to more and more questions. In order to learn more about the criminal mind, I pose the
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question: are convicted criminals inherently evil or does their upbringing and environment lead

them to commit crime?

Dating back to ancient Greece, genetics and environment have been analyzed for its

influence on human behavior. “Since that time, nativists have argued that human personality,

intelligence​, and capabilities are tied to a person’s biological background” (“Nature Vs.

Nurture”). Whereas, empiricists believe that each person is a ​tabula rasa​, or a blank slate, and

their life experiences determine their behavior (“Nature Vs. Nurture”). Although their opinions

differ, both sides know that narrowing down to specific reasons for criminality could lead to

advances in crime prevention, such as treatment programs, classes, or better legislation to

account for these flaws.

In order to understand why scientists believe in the nature theory, one must first

understand how they came to that conclusion. Scientists have been trying to use technological

advancements to get ahead of malfeasance for decades, so genetics were an inevitable step in

crime prevention. In recent years, genetic testing has gotten more precise and led criminologists

to believe that, “biology can also predispose us to criminality. That’s not to say criminals are

born that way, just that biological factors—including variances in autonomic arousal,

neurobiology, and neuroendocrine functioning—have been shown to increase the likelihood that

we might commit criminal acts”​ ​(“What Influences Criminal Behavior?”). It is important to

clarify that one gene is not responsible for all irresponsible behavior, but “a more plausible

scenario is that multiple genes interact to create an increased risk for criminal behavior”

(Mednick, Sarnoff, and Jasmine Tehrani). This means that even though all people express these

traits at one point or another, a criminal's genetics can heighten them and lead them to act more
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recklessly. Identifying these genetic deviations could be the scientific breakthrough lawmakers

have been looking for, but it is important to dive deeper into genetic testing with emphasis on

family history or case studies of serial offenders in order to fully understand the depth of this

issue.

Family history is an important step in unraveling the criminal mind because one parent's

struggle with mental illness could be a child’s struggle with violent tendencies and ultimately…

criminality. In a 1966 study based out of Oregon, data suggested that, “mental illness,

particularly severe mental illness, may be genetically related to violence. [Leading scientist]

Leonard Heston followed up a sample of 47 offspring born to schizophrenic mothers and

compared them to a group of matched controls. These offspring were separated from their

mothers shortly after birth and placed in foster care or orphanages. Eleven (23.4%) of the

adoptees had been incarcerated for violent offenses” (Mednick, Sarnoff, and Jasmine Tehrani).

The offspring presented behavior not normally found in other children, so it suggested that their

violent tendencies had a genetic basis. Inspired by this Oregon study, an American psychologist,

Terrie Moffitt, “investigated the role of parental mental illness in the emergence of violent

offending among Danish adopted-away sons. A significant increase in the rate of violent

offending is noted only among offspring whose biological parents were severely criminal

(typically the biological father) and had been hospitalized one or more times for a psychiatric

condition (typically the biological mother)” (Mednick, Sarnoff, and Jasmine Tehrani). This study

supported, and even expanded, the conclusions previously made by Heston because it added to

the point that children whose family had a history of crime and illness were more likely to

produce children that followed the same path.

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Scientists also use twin studies to show the strength of this genetic chain. They compare

“the rate of criminal behavior of twins who are genetically identical, or monozygotic twins (MZ)

and the rate of criminal behavior of dizygotic twins (DZ) in order to assess the role of genetic

and environmental influences” (Mednick, Sarnoff, and Jasmine Tehrani). Monozygotic twins

develop from the same egg, so they share all the same genes (“Twins- Identical and Fraternal”).

So, when twin research states that “monozygotic twins have the highest heritability, sometimes

as high as 70%, even when reared apart” (“Nature Vs. Nurture”), it means that personality is

developed in the womb. If two siblings are capable of developing identical traits, even after

being separated at birth, it proves that outside influences do not play a role in behavior

development, but that the genetic chain has passed along their parent’s bad behavior.

Studies on serial killers are also an important part of the nature theory because it presents

evidence that their brains are wired differently than the average person at no fault of their

upbringing. For example, “multiple murderers represent individuals in society who appear to

have no conscience. They do not seem to feel anything for their victims and they have the

capacity in many cases to carry out cruel and brutal acts to the clear distress and pain of those

they are hurting” (Guy). A murderer and serial killer are different in the fact that a murderer will

have a motive for the crime, such as anger, sadness, or passion, whereas serial killers just, “get a

kick out of this behavior; they enjoy inflicting pain on their victims. Many enjoy the fear that

their victim displays when they have been captured and realize what is about to happen to them.

Not only can these individuals carry out these acts, they do so repeatedly” (Guy). Instead of

being disgusted by their behavior, they seek out that feeling again and again. In an attempt to

understand the hard wiring of their brains, Dr. Richard Davidson did a study concluding that,
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“people with a large amount of aggression – in particular people who have committed aggressive

murders or have a social disorder – have almost no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex or

the anterior cingulate cortex while activity in the amyglade continued perfectly” (“Serial Killers-

Born or Made?”). This means that serial killers have no activity in the part of the brain that

controls emotional impulses and are not capable of average human behavior. Brain wiring can

not be changed with the experiences they have during childhood; it is brought on by genetic

deviation.

Even though there are studies that support genetic influence on crime, specialists such as

philosophers or psychologists, suggest the existence of an outside authority on behavior. Nurture

theory is often referred to as the blank slate or tabula rasa theory and is backed by many famous

educationalists like John Locke. They believe that children are born “morally neutral” and events

after their birth, particularly during early childhood development, when they are the most

impressionable, build their personality (“The Educationalists”). Thus it can be inferred that

parenting styles, education, and economic status can impact a child’s behavior later on in life. In

fact, past research confirms that “children raised in particularly bad situations are at an increased

risk for criminal behavior in both their juvenile and adult years. Convicted criminals are likely to

have experienced four times as many adverse childhood events than non-criminals” (“What

Influences Criminal Behavior?”).

According to the nurture theory, parenting styles set up a precedent for this bad behavior.

“[Clinical psychologist] Diana Baumrind’s typology, [states that] parenting styles vary on a

two-dimensional framework of parental demandingness (e.g., control, supervision, maturity

demands) and the role parents play in promoting respect for rules and social conventions, and
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responsiveness (e.g., warmth, acceptance, involvement)” (Hosokawa, Rikuya, and Toshiki

Katsura). Therefore, however a parent balances these elements will have different effects on the

child’s personality. “Parents with an authoritarian style attempt to control the behavior of their

children in accordance with a set standard of conduct, usually an absolute standard. They tend to

use demands to discipline their children and only allow them minimal autonomy. They also

demonstrate low affection and emotional warmth in their parent–child relationships. This type of

parenting is likely to be negatively associated with children’s psychosocial development; that is,

children of authoritarian parents are likely to have low self-esteem, be less content and less

secure, and have negative attitudes toward the world” (Hosokawa, Rikuya, and Toshiki Katsura).

These parents create, not only a poor self image in their children, but a poor outlook on authority.

Whereas permissive parenting, “has low demands and high responsiveness. It is characterized by

a lack of monitoring, control, and discipline, yet it is warm and nurturing… it occurs when

parents fail to set limits and do not expect developmentally appropriate behavior of their

children. As a consequence, this type of parenting is likely to be negatively associated with

children’s psychosocial development and children of permissive parents exhibit characteristics

such as narcissistic tendencies, social irresponsibility, and self-centered motivation” (Hosokawa,

Rikuya, and Toshiki Katsura). These styles are two extremes on a sliding scale. In order to create

healthy standards for the child and prevent criminal characteristics in the future, the parent needs

a balance of control and boundaries.

Educational attainment and literacy rates have also proven to correlate with crime rates.

Although, “[c]oncerns about literacy are not new, the nature of these concerns have changed

radically over time. In the past, the lack of ability to read and use printed materials was seen
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primarily as an individual problem, with implications for a person’s job opportunities,

educational goals, sense of fulfillment, and participation in society. Now, however, it is

increasingly viewed as a national problem, with implications that reach far beyond the

individual'' (“Literacy Behind Prison Walls”). Many studies have been conducted to show there

is a relationship between an inmate’s literacy and level of education with a large criminal record.

For example, “the Alliance for Excellent Education (2013) has found that a 10% increase in the

male high school graduation rate would lead to an estimated 20% decrease in assault and murder

arrest rates” (Gonzalez). Even though a high school diploma seems basic for the average

American, most prisoners struggled to even make it that far, so Gonzalez predicts that college

graduation rates would decrease crime significantly in both developed and undeveloped

countries (Gonzalez). “Results show that obtaining a college degree does decrease the homicide

rate across countries… A comparison of the effects of increased secondary graduation rates to

that of college graduation rates shows that there is also a trend of significant, increased

reductions in crime as higher levels of education are achieved” (Gonzalez). Education is an

important step towards rehabilitation and lowering recidivism rates. If the United States wants to

see a change in the prison system, education needs to be more accessible.

Simon Carless is a lead volunteer at the Prison Literature Project in Berkeley, California.

For about 5 years now, he has spent a weekend a month at the Grassroots House, a multipurpose

facility that serves the local community. A couple times a week, volunteers like Carless come

together to answer letters from prisoners across the nation that write to request specific books,

authors, or genres. These generous people dedicate time out of their busy schedules in hopes that

these small packages make an impact on a stranger’s life; that the books will serve as an
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introduction to their rehabilitation process. “We get a lot of comments from prisoners that the

books that we give them are both practical (if it's a dictionary or 'how-to' book), so they can

improve themselves, or just inspiring in that it gives them something to do, given they are

confined to their cells for most of the day. In an environment where it's difficult to find

productive things to do, books really help!”. The Prison Literature Project comes into contact

with all types, whether that be in the people that want to help or that are seeking help, but these

prisoners and volunteers alike see a fault in the justice system and want to see a change. “[The

high incarceration rate is] related to overly harsh laws, especially 'three strikes' and some drug

incarceration laws, which I think many people now agree were not helpful. In California, at least,

a lot of these laws have been rolled back and the prison population is starting to come down

slightly, but from a very high number”. In an interview, Carless talked about where he thought

we should start, “[s]ystemic issues like this are very difficult to fix. But we can change laws over

who goes to prison and provide phone and in-prison services to prisoners via public companies,

not private - that would help a lot.” However, change like that does not come overnight, so

sending books is a great place to start.

Economic status has often been referred to as the driving point for criminal behavior.

Criminologists have found that a poor economic standing increases an individual’s risk for

delinquency far more than the middle and upper class (Barnes, J.C., et al). Growing up lower

class makes some people believe their only way out of poverty, or get what they need physically

and emotionally, is to commit crime. In a study that spanned from 2008 to 2012, it analyzed, “the

relationship between households that were above or below the federal poverty level and nonfatal

violent victimization, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple
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assault” (Berzofsky, Marcus, et al). Not surprisingly, it found that “persons in poor households

had more than triple the rate of serious violence compared to persons in high-income households,

persons in poor households had the highest rate of violence involving a weapon, and persons in

poor households had a higher rate of violence involving a firearm” (Berzofsky, Marcus, et al).

Although not much can be done about the poverty rates in the United States, it is important to

raise awareness that there are resources for these families. Americans do not need to turn towards

crime to have a better quality of life because there are people willing to support them through

their struggles.

Sgt. Renee Williams of the Concord police department has always looked up to officers,

“I perceived them as people to call on when you needed help… I had a few mentors during my

high school and college years that were in the field, so I followed in their footsteps.” This job

was always something she wanted to do, but when she joined the force, she realized the job was

not always what it was made out to be. She had to learn and adapt to the negative perceptions

that came with it, “[o]ur society is headed with violence against law enforcement officers, social

media “court” (where the trend is to draw negative conclusions without knowing all of the facts),

as well as the mistakes fellow officers have made by operating out of policy. While those

instances are few and far between… it tends to define us as a whole.” Not only that, but the more

cruelty and sadness she saw, she started to see people for what they really were, products of their

communities. In an interview regarding her time on the force, she talks about spending time as a

school resource officer and having numerous run ins with the same boy. “One day, I visited his

home and basically saw a lot of dysfunction. It puts things in perspective with why he acted the

way he did and it taught me to always search for what you “can not see” when dealing with an
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incident.” However, unlike volunteer Simon Carless, she believes that the the fault in the justice

system lies with its inability to punish the criminals correctly, “I do not believe 2 years [for a

robbery] will dissuade him from committing more offenses when he [the criminal] gets out of

prison and he may continue living a life of crime.” Even though Sgt. Williams and Simon

Carless see two different sides of the justice system, they both realize that the prisoner is the only

one that can advocate for personal change and rehabilitation.

For some people the fine line between right and wrong can be hard to distinguish.

Whether it be their inability to see any consequences for their actions, it is in their DNA, they

replicate behavior they saw growing up, or they have never had the resources to support

themselves. All these factors make it hard to clearly answer my question about where criminal

behavior originates. Experts in the criminal justice field all have different conclusions on what

makes a criminal, but from the studies and articles I have read, I believe that it is not one just one

explanation. Both your genetic makeup and upbringing can impact your behavior in the future.

This is important because if society recognizes what makes a person more susceptible to bad

behavior, we can focus on ways to rehabilitate and educate offenders on better practices. I plan

on going into the criminal justice field, so this research has opened my eyes to the bigger picture.

I can take the mask off the villain and see the person for who they really are, a mixed of troubled

past and genetic flaws.

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Works Cited

Barnes, J.C., et al. ​The Nurture Versus Biosocial Debate in Criminology: On the Origins of

​ AGE Publications, 2014. Accessed February 3,

Criminal Behavior and Criminality. S

2020.

Berzofsky, Marcus, et al. “Household Poverty and Nonfatal Violent Victimization, 2008-2012.”

Bureau of Justice Statistics​. U.S. Department of Justice,

https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/hpnvv0812.pdf. Accessed February 22, 2020.

Carless, Simon. Lead Prison Literature Project volunteer. Personal Interview. 27 February 2020.

Gonzalez, Alma. “Education: The Secret to Crime Reduction?” ​New York University​.

https://as.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu-as/politics/documents/Gonzalez.pdf. Accessed

February 22, 2020.

Guy, Fiona. “Nature and Nurture: The Origins of Violence.” ​Crime Traveller,​ 7 July 2018,

https://www.crimetraveller.org/2016/05/nature-and-nurture-origins-violence/. Accessed

February 3, 2020.

Hosokawa, Rikuya, and Toshiki Katsura. “Role of Parenting Style in Children’s Behavioral

Problems Through the Transition From Elementary School According to Gender in

Japan.” ​International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health.​ U.S. National

Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6339084/.

Accessed February 22, 2020.

“Literacy Behind Prison Walls.” ​National Center for Education Statistics.​ U.S. Department of

Education, https://nces.ed.gov/pubs94/94102.pdf. Accessed February 22, 2020.

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Mednick, Sarnoff, and Jasmine Tehrani. “Genetic Factors and Criminal Behavior.” ​US Courts​,

https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/64_2_4_0.pdf. Accessed February 3, 2020.

​ acmillan Reference
“Nature Vs. Nurture.” ​International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. M

USA,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3045301716/SUIC?u=wal55317&sid=SUIC&xid=7c0

e5e0d. Accessed February 26, 2020.

“Serial Killers- Born or Made?” ​Pennsylvania State University.​

https://sites.psu.edu/naturevsnurturecollaborationofstudies/2013/10/18/serial-killers-born-

or-made/. Accessed February 22, 2020.

“The Educationalists.” ​University of Michigan​.

http://umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/childrens_lit/Educationalist_Theory.html.

Accessed March 3, 2020.

“Twins- Identical and Fraternal.” ​Better Health Channel​.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/twins-identical-and

-fraternal?viewAsPdf=true. Accessed February 22, 2020.

“What Influences Criminal Behavior?” ​Walden University​.

https://www.waldenu.edu/online-bachelors-programs/bs-in-criminal-justice/resource/wha

t-influences-criminal-behavior. Accessed February 22, 2020.

Williams, Renee. Police officer. Personal Interview. 5 March 2020.