Biochemical conditions, such as diet and sugar intake, have the potential to play a role in negatively
influencing behavior. These conditions can include those that are genetically predetermined as well as
those that are acquired through diet and environment. According to trait theorists, both can have a
direct, and long-term influence on such behaviors. Biochemical factors, like sugar intake, have been
linked to criminality, which poses the question – should sugar be banned from school lunches as a way to
deter antisocial behavior? We will utilize textual evidence found in “Criminology: The Core”, to explore
such policies.
In 1978 Dan White, the confessed killer of San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone, and City Councilman
Harvey milk, claimed his behavior was brought on by an addiction to sugar-ridden junk foods (Siegel,
2019). The “Twinkie Defense” as it is often referred to, was the first to argue in a criminal case, the link
between biochemical conditions and their influence on antisocial behavior. This resulted in a California
jury finding Dan White guilty of a lesser manslaughter charge, based on diminished capacity, rather than
the initial charge of first-degree murder. Since 1978, variations of the Twinkie defense continue to be
utilized and have expanded beyond junk food to include other substances (Barton, 2017).
Within dietary factors, sugar intake has received a great deal of attention in its association with antisocial
and aggressive behavior. Experiments with children’s diet replaced sweet drinks with fruit drinks, table
sugar with honey, and molasses substituted for sugar in cooking, affirmed this link. In Britain, a study on
the long-term effects of childhood diet on adult violence found that 10-year-olds who engaged in
excessive amounts of foods rich in sugar such as candy and soda were the ones most likely to be
convicted for violence in adulthood (Moore SC, Carter LM, van Goozen S, 2009). A study conducted in
Boston with high school students more recently found that adolescents who drank 5 or more cans of
soda per week were more likely to carry weapons and engage in violence with peers, family members,
and intimate partners (Solnick, SJ, Hemenway David, 2012). While there are some impressive results
arising from such studies, questions still remain with the association of sugar and violence. A recent
study conducted by Nathan DeWall and associates found that some sugar intake actually helped to
reduce aggression (Siegel, 2019).
Taking into account all of these factors provided in the textbook, I see a significant upside and little
downside to eliminating sugar from the diets provided within a school setting. Such actions would not
only address sugar intake concerns but also provide children real-life exposure to the importance of
healthy diet choices. For some of the most vulnerable populations, this could be the only exposure to
vegetables and healthy options they get all day. It might cost the school system a bit more to provide
such things but the benefits to the school environment in the short term and the community long run I
believe are justified.
Resources:
1. Siegel, Larry J (2019). Criminology: The Core. (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
2. Barton, Robin L., et al. (2017). “Understanding the So-Called ‘Twinkie’ Defense.” The Crime
Report, https://thecrimereport.org/2017/10/04/understanding-the-so-called-twinkiedefense/#:~:
text=ThephraseTwinkiedefense
was,defenseisreallyamyth.
3. Moore SC, Carter LM, van Goozen S (2009) Confectionery consumption in childhood and adult
violence. Br J Psychiatry 195
4. Solnick, SJ, Hemenway David (2012). “The Twinkie Defense,” Injury Prevention 18: 259-263
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