Memikirkan Ulang Konsep Kesalahan : Tantangan Gen MAOA terhadap Pertanggungjawaban Pidana

Authors

  • Zul Khaidir Kadir Universitas Muslim Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62383/jembatan.v2i3.2362

Keywords:

Aggression, Criminal Liability, Culpability, Free will, MAOA

Abstract

The modern doctrine of criminal responsibility is built on the premise of free will and individual deliberative capacity. However, advances in neurogenetics, particularly findings regarding MAOA-L gene expression, have presented a structural disruption to this framework. The MAOA-L gene has been empirically associated with impaired impulse regulation and increased aggressive responses, particularly in combination with childhood trauma. This study aims to evaluate how MAOA-L gene expression influences the capacity for criminal responsibility and to analyze the tension between classical legal constructs and biological determinants within the structure of culpability. The research method employed normative research with a conceptual approach. The results indicate that the dichotomy-based mens rea doctrine fails to accommodate the degree of control capacity shaped by neurobiological structures. MAOA-L cannot be treated as a basis for forgiveness, but rather serves as an evaluative variable in assessing the spectrum of legal responsibility. In this position, criminal law maintains the principle of individual responsibility but formulates it through a new framework based on actual capacity rather than a universal voluntaristic assumption. This reformulation is necessary to avoid disproportionate attribution of blame and to allow criminal law to move toward a system that is more adaptive to biological realities without falling into determinism.

References

Abeykoon, M. R., Jayasinghe, C. D., Illeperuma, R. J., & Abeysinghe, T. (2024). The tale of warrior gene: The MAOA-upstream variable number tandem repeat (MAOA-uVNTR) polymorphism and its role in shaping aggressive and violent behaviour. Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology, 194(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2024/v16i9402

Barnes, J. C., Raine, A., & Farrington, D. P. (2020). The interaction of biopsychological and social-environmental influences on criminological outcomes. Justice Quarterly, 39(1), 26-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2020.1730425

Berryessa, C. M., Coppola, F., & Salvato, G. (2021). The potential effect of neurobiological evidence on the adjudication of criminal responsibility of psychopathic defendants in involuntary manslaughter cases. Psychology, Crime & Law, 27(2), 140-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2020.1780590

Brewer, J. (2022). Genes as a defense to homicide: Trends in neurocriminology. Psychological Application and Trends, 455-459. https://doi.org/10.36315/2022inpact102

Catley, P., & Claydon, L. (2023). Why neuroscience changes some things but not everything for the law. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 197(1), 251-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821375-9.00016-5

Fire, P. J., Ryder, A. L., Baca, S., Hossain, W. A., Manzardo, A., Butler, M. G., & Bortolato, M. (2025). Sex-dependent effects of MAOA genotypes on the relations between childhood sexual abuse, aggression, and cannabis use in emerging adults. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 34(4), 386-403. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2025.2519575

Fite, P. J., Brown, S., Hossain, W. A., Manzardo, A., Butler, M. G., & Bortolato, M. (2020). Sex-dimorphic interactions of MAOA genotype and child maltreatment predispose college students to polysubstance use. Frontiers in Genetics, 10(1314), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01314

Fritz, M., Rosel, F., Dobler, H., Streb, J., & Dudeck, M. (2021). Childhood trauma, the combination of MAO-A and COMT genetic polymorphisms and the joy of being aggressive in forensic psychiatric patients. Brain Science, 11(1008), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11081008

Geeraets, V. (2021). The enduring pertinence of the basic principle of retribution. Ratio Juris, 34(4), 293-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/raju.12330

Greenwald, E., & Phiri, L. (2024). On accountability: Genetic tools for justice and injustice in criminal proceedings. Journal of Science Policy & Governance, 1(24), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG250109

Hirtenlehner, H., & Leitgob, H. (2024). Deterrence perception, self-control ability and the moral filter: Conceptualizing and testing a model of a subsidiary relevance of deterrence. Deviant Behavior, 45(10), 1391-1418. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2023.2298512

Jia, C., Cheng, C., Li, T., Chen, X., Yang, Y., Liu, X., Li, S., & Le, W. (2021). α-Synuclein up-regulates monoamine oxidase A expression and activity via trans-acting transcription factor 1. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.653379

Jurjako, M., Malatesti, L., & Brazil, I. (2020). Biocognitive classification of antisocial individuals without explanatory reductionism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(4), 957-972. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620904160

Kadir, Z. K. (2024). Menggugat netralitas hukum pidana: Perdebatan ideologis di balik kebijakan kriminal di negara-negara liberal. Eksekusi: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Administrasi Negara, 2(4), 380-400. https://doi.org/10.55606/eksekusi.v2i4.1546

Kadir, Z. K., & Mappaselleng, N. F. (2025). Reformasi konsep heat of passion: Menuju pembatasan provokasi dalam mengurangi pertanggungjawaban pidana pembunuhan. Justitiable-Jurnal Hukum, 8(1), 119-136. https://doi.org/10.56071/justitiable.v8i1.1293

Kanarik, M., Sakala, K., Matrov, D., Kaart, T., Roy, A., Ziegler, G. C., Veidebaum, T., Lesch, K.-P., & Harro, J. (2024). MAOA methylation is associated with impulsive and antisocial behaviour: Dependence on allelic variation, family environment and diet. Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies, 131(1), 59-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02675-w

Lippman, A. (2021). Prenatal genetic testing and screening: Constructing needs and reinforcing inequities. American Journal of Law & Medicine, 17(1), 15-50. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0098858800007917

Mentis, A.-F. A., Dardiotis, E., Katsouni, E., & Chrousos, G. P. (2021). From warrior genes to translational solutions: Novel insights into monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and aggression. Translational Psychiatry, 11(130), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01257-2

Rahmayumita, R. (2022). Rekayasa genetika ditinjau dari segi etika dan moral dalam kajian human cloning. Titian Ilmu: Jurnal Ilmiah Multi Sciences, 14(2), 52-56. https://doi.org/10.30599/jti.v14i2.1599

Serban, L. V. (2025). Neuroscience, genetics, education, and AI: Charting new frontiers in understanding human behavior and criminal responsibility. Brain: Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 16(1), 399-414. https://doi.org/10.70594/brain/16.S1/31

Vries, B. de. (2024). Neurodiversity and the neuro-neutral state. AJOB Neuroscience, 197(1), 264-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/21507740.2024.2368715

Downloads

Published

2025-09-27

How to Cite

Zul Khaidir Kadir. (2025). Memikirkan Ulang Konsep Kesalahan : Tantangan Gen MAOA terhadap Pertanggungjawaban Pidana. Jembatan Hukum : Kajian Ilmu Hukum, Sosial Dan Administrasi Negara, 2(3), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.62383/jembatan.v2i3.2362