Discuss the dangers of placing too much emphasis on the genetic basis of personality and behavior. What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER: Answers will vary.
Background:The
history of human behavioral genetics in the eugenics movement of the early part of the
last century provides a lesson in the consequences of overemphasizing the role of genetics in
behavior. The identification of genes affecting behavior may not only lead to improvements
in diagnosis and treatment of behavior disorders but also has implications for society at large.
The Human Genome Project has raised questions about the way in which genetic information
will be disseminated and used. The same concerns need to be addressed for genes that affect
behavior. Many behavioral phenotypes, such as Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease,
are clearly regarded as abnormal. Few would argue against the development of treatments for
intervention in and prevention of these conditions. The larger question is: When do behavior
phenotypes move from being abnormal to being variants? If there is a connection between
bipolar disorder or some forms of autism and creativity, to what extent should the condition be treated? If genes that influence sexual orientation are identified, will this behavior be
regarded as a variant or as a condition that should be treated and/or prevented?
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