Book · 1998 · Social Science
Crime Human Nature
The Definitive Study of the Causes of Crime
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Now Mr. Wilson got famous for writing a 1985 book with the title Crime and Human Nature which argued that criminality was caused by specific genetic factors. There it is.
Why people recommend it
Crime Human Nature by James Q. Wilson and Richard J. Herrnstein is a 1985 academic book that argues criminality is heavily influenced by specific biological and genetic factors. Robert Evans discussed and critiqued the book across multiple episodes of Behind the Bastards while examining the intellectual roots of harmful public policies and the history of American policing. Evans noted that James Q. Wilson gained widespread fame for co-authoring the text with Herrnstein, pointing out that the book advanced controversial claims regarding biological determinism and sociobiology. When covering the background of figures involved in the juvenile justice system, Evans brought up the book to explain the underlying ideologies that influenced prominent policy analysts like John DiIulio. Evans explicitly criticized the authors' arguments, highlighting how their focus on genetic determinants and race-related criminal tendencies formed a dangerous foundation for punitive criminal justice reforms. By analyzing the book, Evans demonstrated how pseudoscientific ideas about human nature managed to permeate mainstream political discourse and shape harmful institutional practices.
Every mention
Robert Evans Now Mr. Wilson got famous for writing a 1985 book with the title Crime and Human Nature which argued that c… 2
“Now Mr. Wilson got famous for writing a 1985 book with the title Crime and Human Nature which argued that criminality was caused by specific genetic factors. There it is.”
“Wilson co-authored the book Crime and Human Nature with Richard Hearnstein, which argued that there were important biological determinants of criminality.”
