Male children born to women who smoke during pregnancy run a

Male children born to women who smoke during pregnancy run a risk of violent and criminal behavior that lasts well into adulthood. Can we infer that smoking during pregnancy is responsible for criminal behavior in people? Explain your answer.

Solution

No we cannot infer that smoking during pregnancy is responsible for criminal behavior in people. There seems to be some confounding variables. Here we dont know about the social status fo women who smoking, we dont knwo about the social circle of teh women etc. It may be possible that women is from poor class or women have criminal records or baby father have criminal records. In that case there is a risk of violent and criminal behavior that lasts well into adulthood.