Discuss what heritability estimates can and cannot reveal about genetic influences on antisocial phenotypes.

Instructions: Please answer all four of the following discussion questions. Questions must be typed, double spaced, in 12-point font with 1” margins. Answers do not need to be any specific length but must answer the question fully. Please cite all sources used for each answer. Assignments will be primarily evaluated for content, but proper citations and writing effectiveness is also important (e.g. organization, style, grammar, punctuation, spelling). In order to receive credit, assignments must be turned in by the beginning of class time the day they are due.

1. Discuss the major problem with standard social science methodologies (SSSMs). How does this problem affect existing criminological research that examines the relationship between family-level variables and crime outcomes?

2. Opponents to biosocial research argue that biological explanations are evil and dangerous while sociological explanations are humane. Discuss the merit of this claim.

3. Discuss how behavioral genetic methodologies represent a major improvement over SSSMs.

4. Discuss what heritability estimates can and cannot reveal about genetic influences on antisocial phenotypes. At the same time, also discuss the difference between broad heritability and narrow heritability.