Question

A local sheriff believes that the people of a town in his district, who have high arrest and conviction rates, are born thieves because of their genetic constitution. Which of the following would this sheriff's attitudes best fit into?

Option 1: Cultural Anthropology
Option 2: Sociological Analysis
Option 3: Genetic Determinism
Option 4: Environmental Psychology

Answer 1

The attitudes of the local sheriff in this scenario can best be classified as Genetic Determinism. However, research suggests that crime rates are influenced by factors such as poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility.

Step-by-step explanation:

The attitudes of the local sheriff in this scenario can best be classified as Genetic Determinism. Genetic determinism is the belief that an individual's behavior and characteristics are primarily determined by their genetic makeup.

However, research and theories in sociology, criminology, and social disorganization theory suggest that crime rates are influenced by factors such as poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility. These factors create conditions that may encourage or discourage criminal behavior, rather than genetics being the sole determinant.

Therefore, the sheriff's belief that a town's high arrest and conviction rates are solely due to the genetic constitution of its people does not align with the evidence provided by sociological research.