Twin Studies of Political Behavior

Untenable Assumptions

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6325110
AutoresJon Beckwith (Harvard University), Corey A Morris (Harvard University)
Ano2008
Volume6
Fascículo4
Páginas785-791
Data de publicação2008-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPerspectives on Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1537-5927 • E-ISSN: 1541-0986
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1537592708081917
OpenAlexW1971075987
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas27
Referências citadas22

Using the “classical twin method,” political scientists John Alford, Carolyn Funk, and John Hibbing conclude that political ideologies are significantly influenced by genetics, an assertion that has garnered considerable media attention. Researchers have long used human twins in attempts to assess the degree of genetic influence on various behavioral traits. Today, this methodology has been largely replaced in favor of contemporary molecular genetic techniques, and thus heritability studies have seen a diminishing role in behavioral genetic research of the twenty-first century. One important reason the twin method has been superseded is that it depends upon several questionable assumptions, the most significant of which is known as the equal environments assumption. Alford, Funk, and Hibbing argue that this crucial assumption, and thus their conclusion, holds up under empirical scrutiny. They point to several studies in support of this assumption. Here, we review the evidence presented and conclude that these attempts to test the equal environments assumption are weak, suffering significant methodological and inherent design flaws. Furthermore, much of the empirical evidence provided by these studies actually argues that, contrary to the interpretation, trait-relevant equal environments assumptions have been violated. We conclude that the equal environments assumption remains untenable, and as such, twin studies are an insufficient method for drawing meaningful conclusions regarding complex human behavior

Assertion · Economics · Empirical research · Epistemology · Evolutionary biology · Funk · Heritability · Ideology · Interpretation (philosophy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Scrutiny · Sociology · Trait · Twin study · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Computer Science · Cultural Differences and Values · History · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology