In Search of the Mommy Gene

Truth and Consequences in Behavioral Genetics

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5337909
AutoresPhilip M Rosoff (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, DC, USA, autor correspondente)
Ano2010
Volume35
Fascículo2
Páginas200-243
Data de publicação2010-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoScience Technology & Human Values (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0162-2439 • E-ISSN: 1552-8251
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0162243909340260
OpenAlexW2101193665
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas107

Behavioral genetics has as its goal the discovery of genes that play a significant causal role in complex phenotypes that are socially relevant such a parenting, aggression, psychiatric disorders, intelligence, and even race. In this article, I present the stories of the discoveries of three such important phenotypes: maternal nurturing behavior and the c-fosB gene; intelligence and phenylketonuria (PKU); and pair-bonding and monogamy (vasopressin and oxytocin) and show that the reality is considerably more complex than often portrayed. These accounts also lay bare some fundamental misconceptions of this field in which genes hold a privileged place and inherently subjective phenomena are mistakenly objectified

Aggression · Behavioural genetics · Biology · Developmental psychology · Gene · Phenotype · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Psychology · Race, Genetics, and Society · Genetics