Early family studies, such as Richard Dugdale's study of the Juke family, emphasized ________ as the main source of crime.

Richard Dugdale's study of the Juke family is a pivotal early investigation that highlighted the concept of heredity as a significant contributor to criminal behavior. In his research, Dugdale traced the lineage of the Jukes and found a high incidence of criminality, mental illness, and poverty among its members, suggesting that these negative traits could be inherited.

This emphasis on heredity was part of a broader biological determinism perspective that gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which posited that genetic factors could predispose individuals to engage in criminal behavior. Dugdale's findings contributed to the debate over nature versus nurture, positioning heredity as a critical factor in understanding crime.

In contrast, other options such as environmental factors, social influences, and economic status, while relevant to discussions of crime, were not the primary focus of Dugdale's work. His conclusions leaned more towards the notion that criminal traits were passed down through generations, thus underscoring the inheritance of criminal behavior rather than the effects of one's surroundings or societal conditions.