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Surprising Science

Toddlers Headed For Jail

The seeds of criminal and anti-social behaviour can be found in children as young as three, scientists say. But can we help keep them on the straight and narrow?
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The seeds of criminal and anti-social behaviour can be found in children as young as three, scientists say, and by predicting which children have the potential to be trouble, treatments could be introduced to keep them on the straight and narrow. British criminologist Adrian Raine says that abnormal physical brain make-up could be a cause of criminality, as well as helping to predict it. Therapy could include counselling to counteract innate behavioural problems and boosting the brain with drugs or foods rich in Omega 3. Dr Raine acknowledged the ethical implications of treating children before they had done anything wrong, but argued that “biological” causes of crime could not be ignored.

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