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The Gene Illusion: Genetic Research In Psychiatry And Psychology Under The Microscope

by: Jay Joseph
en | Algora Publishing

0875863434  9780875863436  0875863450  9780875863450  9781417561599 

The Gene Illusion: Genetic Research In Psychiatry And Psychology Under The Microscope
By Jay Joseph




Product Description:

What are the forces shaping who we are, how we live, and how we act? Are we shaped primarily by our environment, or by our genes? These very old questions form the basis of the "nature-nurture" debate. Increasingly, we are told that research has confirmed the importance of genetic factors influencing psychiatric disorders, personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, criminality, and so on.

Jay Joseph’s timely, challenging book provides a much-needed critical appraisal of the evidence cited in support of genetic theories. His book shows that, far from establishing the importance of genes, family, twin and adoption research has been plagued by researcher bias, unsound methodology, and a reliance on unsupported theoretical assumptions. Furthermore, he demonstrates how this greatly flawed research has been used in support of conservative social and political agendas. This is particularly evident in Chapter 2, which contains the only in-depth critical review of the history of twin research ever published.

Much of the scientific evidence cited in support of genetic theories has been produced by the fields of behavior genetics and psychiatric genetics. It has been delivered to the public in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, as well as by the authors of several popular books. In particular, studies of twins (both reared together and reared apart) have been cited as providing conclusive evidence supporting the importance of genetic influences on psychological trait differences. The reared-apart twin studies performed by researchers at the University of Minnesota have been the subject of much attention, including stories of individual pairs of "reared-apart" identical twins who, it is claimed, displayed remarkable similarities upon being reunited. Joseph shows, however, that both systematic reared-apart twin studies, and stories about individual pairs, prove little if anything about the role of genes.

Schizophrenia is the most studied, and at the same time the most feared and misunderstood, of all psychiatric disorders. Two chapters are devoted to problems with genetic research in this area. One of these chapters reviews schizophrenia adoption research, which includes the well-known and frequently cited Danish-American and Finnish investigations. Another chapter looks into the alleged genetic basis of criminal behavior — an idea more popular today than at any time in the past 60 years. Additional chapters look into other areas of current interest in genetics, such as IQ, the heritability concept, and molecular genetic research. Regarding the latter, in Chapter 10 Joseph concludes that it is unlikely that genes for the major psychiatric disorders exist.

In contrast to the bleak view of humans and their future held by people claiming that heredity is of overriding importance, there exists a radically different perspective. Faulty genes are not the cause of human suffering or socially disapproved behavior. Rather, the likely causes are well-known and well-documented psychologically harmful events and environments.

This book is essential reading for anyone seeking an alternative to the increasingly popular, yet mistaken view that "genes are destiny."




Summary: Not afraid to challenge the myths which for so long have been assumed to be facts
Rating: 5

The author is to be congratulated for what is an incredibly thorough, comprehensive, and well researched book on a controversial topic. It is amazing the depth of research and investigation he has undertaken, in order to set the record straight - namely, that studies which purport to 'prove' that mental illnesses are genetic in origin, are often shonky and need to be critically re-appraised. Far too often, people assume that just because something appears in a scientific journal, then it must necessarily be factual and free from bias. Dr Joseph has shown this not to be the case when twin and adoption studies are used to try and prove the genetic basis of mental illnesses. I thought my limited knowledge of genetics, biology, and heredity may have made it difficult for me to read this book, but that was not the case. It is well written, with all the technical terms clearly explained.



Summary: Superb deconstruction
Rating: 5

Among the many books that expose pretensions of the genetic enterprise and its social consequences, Jay Joseph's book is unique. It takes apart the science and methodology of the most-cited psychiatric science, the demonstration in schizophrenia twin studies of genetic influences on behavior. Joseph's tone toward his material is sober and respectful, which only highlights his painstaking, unrelenting, and ultimately devastating analysis of ideas that have posed as science for over 100 years.
Joseph's scholarship is original, comprehensive, and even finicky; and occasionally there is even passion. Joseph's book is so good in my view that it can claim fresh status as the definitive scientific account of the twin studies. And anyone from now on who ignores this account when discussing these studies should be judged accordingly.
To shake off the vestiges of reductionist science and eugenics, this is the book.