Understanding the Nature‒Nurture Debate

Presents a clear explanation of heritability, the ongoing nature versus nurture debate and a discussion of current available evidence.

Eric Turkheimer (Author)

9781108958165, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 November 2024

212 pages
17.7 x 12.6 x 1.1 cm, 0.2 kg

'Eric Turkheimer predicted the daunting genetic complexity of human behavior before the Human Genome Project had even been completed, a challenge the field is still grappling with two decades later. In this cogent book, he shares an insider's perspective on the history of behavioral genetics, from analyses of twins to cutting-edge association studies of millions of genomes. Along the way, he offers insights into the universal desire to understand our own humanity and the fundamental inability of genetic variation to provide us with easy answers.' Alexander Gusev, Harvard Medical School and The Dana–Farber Cancer Institute

There are arguably few areas of science more fiercely contested than the question of what makes us who we are. Are we products of our environments or our genes? Is nature the governing force behind our behaviour or is it nurture? While it is now widely agreed that it is a mixture of both, discussions continue as to which is the dominant influence. This unique volume presents a clear explanation of heritability, the ongoing nature versus nurture debate and the evidence that is currently available. Starting at the beginning of the modern nature-nurture debate, with Darwin and Galton, this book describes how evolution posed a challenge to humanity by demonstrating that humans are animals, and how modern social science was necessitated when humans became an object of natural science. It clearly sets out the most common misconceptions such as the idea that heritability means that a trait is 'genetic' or that it is a justification for eugenics.

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Genesis: why do we care about Nature-Nurture?
2. The worst legacy of Francis Galton
3. Statistical science and the invention of heritability
4. Reports of Galton's death are greatly exaggerated
5. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis
6. Plomin's predictions and the human genome project
7. GWAS unchained, GWAS unwound
8. Intelligence
9. IQ, race and genetics
10. Nature-Nurture and the possibility of human science
Summary of common misunderstandings
References
Figure credits
Index.

Subject Areas: Genetics [non-medical PSAK]