These four characteristics interact in a multiplicative fashion to result in a lifestyle that often includes criminal justice system involvement. A survey of 27 criminal justice experts, 97 inmates, and 32 adults in the general population revealed considerable consensus in their perceptions of the causes of criminality. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, there is no evidence to support genetic, substance abuse, mental illness, psychological conflict/stress, peer influence, poverty, lack of education or job skills, or biopsychosocial causal models of criminality. Findings regarding such explanations have been mixed, and most research has been correlational, making causal statements inappropriate. Criminal justice experts were more likely to ascribe to biopsychosocial explanations, while inmates and adults were more likely to cite greed or personal choice as explanations. It is argued that the source of crime is personal choice, not genes, poverty, or trauma. While the four characteristics define lifestyle criminality, they are the personal choice and responsibility of the offender. 55 references.