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Twin Studies, Molecular Genetics, Politics, and Tolerance: A Response to Beckwith and Morris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2008

John R. Alford ,
Carolyn L. Funk  and
John R. Hibbing
John R. Alford
Affiliation:
Rice University. E-mail: jra@rice.edu
Carolyn L. Funk
Affiliation:
Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University. E-mail: clfunk@vcu.edu
John R. Hibbing
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. E-mail: jhibbing@unl.edu
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Abstract

Beckwith and Morris raise concerns about the value of twin studies for understanding the role of genetics in complex human behavior, but virtually all of their concerns have been raised and rebutted before. When it comes to the equal environments assumption (EEA), the best approach is to test for and control possible violations of the EEA on heritability estimates rather than merely rejecting all empirical evidence because of the possibility of EEA violations. In many respects, since the study of the genetic basis of complex human behaviors now includes many methods in addition to twin studies, Beckwith and Morris's critique applies more to the behavioral genetics of a quarter century ago than to today's multifaceted behavioral genetics. Twin studies establish that there is a sizeable genetic component to political orientations, thereby giving cause to look further at the nature of that role by using other methodologies, including molecular genetics. We conclude by pointing out that the normative implications of the relevance of genes to human behavior are not nearly as worrisome as Beckwith and Morris seem to believe.

Type
Comment
Information
Perspectives on Politics , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 793 - 797
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2008

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