Abstract
The fact that genes and environment contribute differentially to variation in human behaviors, traits and attitudes is central to the field of behavior genetics. Perceptions about these differential contributions may affect ideas about human agency. We surveyed two independent samples (N = 301 and N = 740) to assess beliefs about free will, determinism, political orientation, and the relative contribution of genes and environment to 21 human traits. We find that lay estimates of genetic influence on these traits cluster into four distinct groups, which differentially predict beliefs about human agency, political orientation, and religiosity. Despite apparent ideological associations with these beliefs, the correspondence between mean lay estimates and published heritability estimates for the surveyed traits is large (r =.77). Belief in genetic determinism emerges as a modest predictor of accuracy in these lay estimates. Additionally, educated mothers with multiple children emerge as particularly accurate in their estimates of the genetic contribution to these traits.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 136-153 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Behavior genetics |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 15 2019 |
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Keywords
- Determinism
- Environment
- Free will
- Genetics
- Heritability
- Human agency
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Cite this
Free Will, Determinism, and Intuitive Judgments About the Heritability of Behavior. / Willoughby, Emily A.; Love, Alan C.; McGue, Matt; Iacono, William G.; Quigley, Jack; Lee, James J.
In: Behavior genetics, Vol. 49, No. 2, 15.03.2019, p. 136-153.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Free Will, Determinism, and Intuitive Judgments About the Heritability of Behavior
AU - Willoughby, Emily A.
AU - Love, Alan C.
AU - McGue, Matt
AU - Iacono, William G.
AU - Quigley, Jack
AU - Lee, James J.
PY - 2019/3/15
Y1 - 2019/3/15
N2 - The fact that genes and environment contribute differentially to variation in human behaviors, traits and attitudes is central to the field of behavior genetics. Perceptions about these differential contributions may affect ideas about human agency. We surveyed two independent samples (N = 301 and N = 740) to assess beliefs about free will, determinism, political orientation, and the relative contribution of genes and environment to 21 human traits. We find that lay estimates of genetic influence on these traits cluster into four distinct groups, which differentially predict beliefs about human agency, political orientation, and religiosity. Despite apparent ideological associations with these beliefs, the correspondence between mean lay estimates and published heritability estimates for the surveyed traits is large (r =.77). Belief in genetic determinism emerges as a modest predictor of accuracy in these lay estimates. Additionally, educated mothers with multiple children emerge as particularly accurate in their estimates of the genetic contribution to these traits.
AB - The fact that genes and environment contribute differentially to variation in human behaviors, traits and attitudes is central to the field of behavior genetics. Perceptions about these differential contributions may affect ideas about human agency. We surveyed two independent samples (N = 301 and N = 740) to assess beliefs about free will, determinism, political orientation, and the relative contribution of genes and environment to 21 human traits. We find that lay estimates of genetic influence on these traits cluster into four distinct groups, which differentially predict beliefs about human agency, political orientation, and religiosity. Despite apparent ideological associations with these beliefs, the correspondence between mean lay estimates and published heritability estimates for the surveyed traits is large (r =.77). Belief in genetic determinism emerges as a modest predictor of accuracy in these lay estimates. Additionally, educated mothers with multiple children emerge as particularly accurate in their estimates of the genetic contribution to these traits.
KW - Determinism
KW - Environment
KW - Free will
KW - Genetics
KW - Heritability
KW - Human agency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055320718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85055320718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10519-018-9931-1
DO - 10.1007/s10519-018-9931-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 30315376
AN - SCOPUS:85055320718
VL - 49
SP - 136
EP - 153
JO - Behavior Genetics
JF - Behavior Genetics
SN - 0001-8244
IS - 2
ER -