Wrestling with Behavioral Genetics: Science, Ethics, and Public Conversation

by Erik Parens, Audrey R. Chapman, Nancy Press

Overview

Hardly a month goes by without a media report proclaiming that researchers have discovered the gene for some complex human behavior or trait—intelligence, dyslexia, shyness, homosexuality. The practical implications of genetic research can bring great good—relieving parents of self-blame for a child's schizophrenia or autism and possibly treating genetic diseases in the future. Other findings—or pernicious interpretations of them—can cause great harm, for example, by establishing flawed connections between genetics, race, and educational attainment.

Wrestling with Behavioral Genetics brings together an interdisciplinary group of contributors—human geneticists, humanists, social scientists, lawyers, and journalists—to discuss the ethical and social implications of behavioral genetics research. The essays give readers the necessary tools to critically analyze the findings of behavioral geneticists, explore competing interpretations of the ethical and social implications of those findings, and engage in a productive public conversation about them.

This volume provides an accessible introduction to a fascinating and controversial science and the societal and individual implications of its continuing development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801890918
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	10/15/2008
Series:	Bioethics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Erik Parens is a senior research scholar at The Hastings Center, a visiting professor in the Science, Technology, and Society Program at Sarah Lawrence College, and the coeditor of Wrestling with Behavioral Genetics: Science, Ethics, and Public Conversation (Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2005). He is also editor of Enhancing Human Traits: Ethical and Social Implications (Georgetown Univ. Press, 1998) and Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights (Georgetown Univ.Press, 2000).

Audrey R. Chapman is a professor of community medicine and Healey Chair in Medical Humanities and Bioethics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Nancy Press is a professor at the School of Nursing and the Department of Public Health at the School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Basic Scientific Concepts and Debates
Chapter 1. Behavior: Its Nature and Nurture, Part 1
Chapter 2. Behavior: Its Nature and Nurture, Part 2
Chapter 3. Whither Human Behavioral Genetics?
Chapter 4. Mobiles: A Gloomy View of Research into Complex Human Traits
Chapter 5. Using Genetics to Understand Human Behavior: Promises and Risks
Part II: Basic Ethical and Social Concepts and Problems
Chapter 6. Social Construction and Medicalization: Behavioral Genetics in Context
Chapter 7. Behavioral Genetics and Explanations of the Link Between Crime, Violence, and Race
Chapter 8. Impulsivity, Responsibility, and Criminal Law
Chapter 9. Behavioral Genetics and Equality
Chapter 10. Behavioral Genetics and Moral Responsibility
Chapter 11. Behavioral Genetics and Moral Responsibility
Part III: Promoting Public Conversation about Behavioral Genetics
Chapter 12. Creating Public Conversation about Behavioral Genetics
Chapter 13. Laypeople and Behavioral Genetics
Chapter 14. Behavioral Genetics and the Media
Index

What People are Saying About This

Eric T. Juengst

This magisterial volume is the best analysis to date of the internal tensions and philosophical implications of contemporary research in behavioral genetics. It makes clear how genetic claims about human behavior can be both strong and slippery at once, and it illuminates the challenges this creates for the clinicians, teachers, jurists, and policy makers who must wrestle with them in practical contexts.

— Eric T. Juengst, Case Western Reserve University

Sandy Thomas

This timely book brings together authoritative, state-of-the-art accounts of the many intriguing facets of behavioral genetics. One of the book's many strengths is the way in which the thread of complexity and uncertainty underlying genetics is picked up by each author and confronted in a refreshingly candid style. Highly referenced, this thought-provoking book is written for the specialist as well as the general reader.

— Sandy Thomas, Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics

Patricia King

Wrestling with Behavioral Genetics could not be more welcome. If this society is to realize the promise of behavioral genetics while avoiding misuse and misinterpretation of genetic data and stigmatization of individuals and groups, the public must be able to evaluate the methods, implications, and findings of this field. This excellent book provides the basic tools to do just that.

— Patricia King, Georgetown University

Rayna Rapp

This contentious, well-written collection reveals how complex science and complex social contexts co-produce what counts as new behavioral knowledge.

— Rayna Rapp, New York University

From the Publisher

A terrific volume, containing some of the clearest and most engaging writing I've seen on the ethical, social, legal, and policy issues raised by human behavioral genetics.
—David T. Wasserman, University of Maryland

Wrestling with Behavioral Genetics could not be more welcome. If this society is to realize the promise of behavioral genetics while avoiding misuse and misinterpretation of genetic data and stigmatization of individuals and groups, the public must be able to evaluate the methods, implications, and findings of this field. This excellent book provides the basic tools to do just that.
—Patricia King, Georgetown University

In this book, a handful of professional thinkers apply their considerable skill to the controversies surrounding behavioral genetics. Yet, nonprofessional thinkers will enjoy the book, too. It should stimulate talk about behavioral genetics in college classrooms, newsrooms, town meetings, and coffee shops. The book will raise consciousness about behavioral genetics, while lowering unreasonable fear. Whatever you think about behavioral genetics, and whether or not you agree with the chapters, this book will make you think. A great contribution. It is marvelous to have all of these topics dealt with in a single volume. This gathering will go far in promoting dialogue, because now people who are interested in joining the debate can easily find the relevant papers.
—Terrie Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

This magisterial volume is the best analysis to date of the internal tensions and philosophical implications of contemporary research in behavioral genetics. It makes clear how genetic claims about human behavior can be both strong and slippery at once, and it illuminates the challenges this creates for the clinicians, teachers, jurists, and policy makers who must wrestle with them in practical contexts.
—Eric T. Juengst, Case Western Reserve University

This contentious, well-written collection reveals how complex science and complex social contexts co-produce what counts as new behavioral knowledge.
—Rayna Rapp, New York University

This timely book brings together authoritative, state-of-the-art accounts of the many intriguing facets of behavioral genetics. One of the book's many strengths is the way in which the thread of complexity and uncertainty underlying genetics is picked up by each author and confronted in a refreshingly candid style. Highly referenced, this thought-provoking book is written for the specialist as well as the general reader.
—Sandy Thomas, Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics

David T. Wasserman

A terrific volume, containing some of the clearest and most engaging writing I've seen on the ethical, social, legal, and policy issues raised by human behavioral genetics.

— David T. Wasserman, University of Maryland

Terrie Moffitt

In this book, a handful of professional thinkers apply their considerable skill to the controversies surrounding behavioral genetics. Yet, nonprofessional thinkers will enjoy the book, too. It should stimulate talk about behavioral genetics in college classrooms, newsrooms, town meetings, and coffee shops. The book will raise consciousness about behavioral genetics, while lowering unreasonable fear. Whatever you think about behavioral genetics, and whether or not you agree with the chapters, this book will make you think. A great contribution. It is marvelous to have all of these topics dealt with in a single volume. This gathering will go far in promoting dialogue, because now people who are interested in joining the debate can easily find the relevant papers.

— Terrie Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Editorial Reviews

This volume presents a fair and honest treatment of the field that is both cautious at times and also optimistic and hopeful.
—James Sage, Metapsychology

Informative, provocative, and challenging, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand this emerging field.
—Bonnie Steinbock, Social Theory and Practice

What sets this collection apart from others is the way that contributions from a diverse authorship are integrated to form a coherent whole . . . Doubtless this book will soon become a classic within behavioral genetics, and compulsory reading for the non-specialist seeking to understand the basic scientific, social and ethical issues within the field.
—Jonathan P. Roiser, American Journal of Bioethics

Promoting public conversation about behavioral genetics will be increasingly pertinent to creating enlightened, fair, and representative public policy . . . The 'wrestling' will go on for some time to come.
—John I. Nurnberger, M.D., Ph.D., New England Journal of Medicine

Highly recommended.
—Choice

From the Publisher

What sets this collection apart from others is the way that contributions from a diverse authorship are integrated to form a coherent whole . . . Doubtless this book will soon become a classic within behavioral genetics, and compulsory reading for the non-specialist seeking to understand the basic scientific, social and ethical issues within the field.

American Journal of Bioethics - Jonathan P. Roiser

Promoting public conversation about behavioral genetics will be increasingly pertinent to creating enlightened, fair, and representative public policy . . . The 'wrestling' will go on for some time to come.

New England Journal of Medicine - John I. Nurnberger

This volume presents a fair and honest treatment of the field that is both cautious at times and also optimistic and hopeful.

Metapsychology - James Sage

Informative, provocative, and challenging, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand this emerging field.

Social Theory and Practice - Bonnie Steinbock

Highly recommended.

Choice