Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 95: Some scientists believe that studying the behaviour of 3-year-old children can 
predict their criminality. To what extent do you think a crime is a product of human 
nature or is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?
 
(heredity, genetic dispositions, heritable genes )
(impersonal), (impulsive)
( unsympathetic),
(environment)
(family factors) , (poverty), (lack of discipline ); (poor communication), (family violence ) (abuse or 
neglect)
(schooling), (peer group),(social setting), (cultural background), (economic status) 
The age-old nature as nurture debate is concerned mainly with reaching a conclusion over 
genetic and environmental influences on criminal behaviour, which has long been a subject of 
interest to psychologists and criminologists. Some scientists subscribe to a view that studying the 
behaviour of 3- year-old children can help foretell their criminality. To the best of my knowledge, 
both genes and environment have a bearing over the development of one's behaviour patterns, 
including criminal or violent behaviour.
The notion that some individuals have a genetic predisposition for criminal behaviour can 
seek support from a large number of facts. For example, aggression and impulsivity, two 
personality traits commonly found among adult criminals, are in fact evident from as early as 
those people's preschool years. Criminals are also diagnosed to share a similar set of 
psychological problems, indicating their heritable nature. If given the right circumstances, 
individuals with those genes would eventually engage in criminal activity. For example, the 
children raised in an environment where violence and illegitimacy are norms are more likely to 
commit similar crimes in adulthood. It is therefore fair to say that the effect of heredity is 
worsened by the environment.
While the impact of genetic predisposition is recognized, genetics is not solely responsible for 
unlawful acts. Criminal tendencies are admittedly clear among those children whose parents have 
a long criminal history. However, the chances for their engagement in criminal activities would 
not become bigger until they are exposed to an environment that breeds such activities. 
Environment can modify, weaken or reinforce one's characteristics. It is the reason why a child 
can act in a different manner from his or her parents. It is neither practicable nor rational to make 
a moral judgment on a child simply by their genetic makeup and label him or her as a criminal 
while ignoring the influence of factors like education.
A proper understanding of the impact of environment on individual behaviour also enables 
people to recognize the influence of some other elements, such as schooling and upbringing. 
Children, whose biological parents have criminal records, have the potential for personal success, 
if adopted and reared by well-educated and upper class families. Likewise, children who 
experience family problems like family breakdown and child abuse are more likely to commit 
violent crimes later in life. These elements, working either in isolation or in groups, lead to a 
child's criminal behaviour.
In the light of the facts outlined above, one can conclude that the interaction between genes 
and the environment is a predictor of criminal behaviour. Certain genes, when combined with 
certain environmental factors, lead to criminal behaviour. 
To prevent individuals with criminal disposition from committing crimes, schooling, 
parenting and some other factors are of critical importance.
1

---

1. Age-old =long-standing
2. Predisposition=disposition=penchant
3. Evident=obvious=apparent=manifest=marked=patent=plain
4. Diagnose=detect=identify
5. Heritable=inherited=hereditary
6. Circumstance=environment=condition
7. Worsen=multiply
8. Unlawful=illegal=illegitimate=prohibited
9. Label=regard=consider=brand
10. Upbringing=rearing=education
2

---