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Why the CLASH model is an unconvincing evolutionary theory of crime

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2017

Brian B. Boutwell
Affiliation:
Criminology and Criminal Justice, School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103boutwellb@slu.eduhttp://www.slu.edu/college-for-public-health-and-social-justice/contact-us/brian-boutwell-phd Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104
Bo Winegard
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306. winegard@psy.fsu.eduhttps://psy.fsu.edu/~baumeisterticelab/winegard.html

Abstract

The CLASH model is not convincing for two reasons. First, it ignores prior research proposing very similar ideas in a more compelling fashion. Second, it dismisses the role of genetic factors in shaping criminal propensities across population groups, opting for a facultative view of life history evolution that does not seem to square with current evidence.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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