ABSTRACT
In previous chapters we have examined some of the biosocial bases of criminality. In the course of this examination it has been emphasised that criminality is not a unitary construct. There is no one gene or neurological feature that distinguishes offenders from non-offenders, and nor can criminality be defi ned in terms of a single offender attribute. Rather, a predisposition to commit crime may involve a variety of different personal characteristics. There has been some discussion already about what these attributes include. For example, in the previous chapter sensation-seeking, risk-taking and impulsivity were each identifi ed as potential contributors to criminal conduct. In this chapter we unpack in a more systematic way the personal attributes that may increase an individual’s likelihood to engage in crime.
