ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter introduces “trait theories,” which explore the inuence of biology and psychology on criminal behavior. They attempt to answer the following question: Why do people respond differently to identical environmental inuences? For example, why do some people succumb to peer pressure while others do not? How is it that siblings who share their upbringing can sometimes vary widely in their level of criminal activity? The theories in this chapter provide some possible answers to these questions by looking to “individual differences” as a possible source of criminal behavior.
