The Media and Behavioral Genetics: Alternatives Coexisting with Addiction Genetics

Molly J Dingel; Jenny Ostergren; Jennifer B. McCormick; Rachel Hammer; Barbara A. Koenig

doi:10.1177/0162243914558491

The Media and Behavioral Genetics: Alternatives Coexisting with Addiction Genetics

Molly J Dingel, Jenny Ostergren, Jennifer B. McCormick, Rachel Hammer, Barbara A. Koenig

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

To understand public discourse in the United States on genetic causation of behavioral disorders, we analyzed media representations of genetic research on addiction published between 1990 and 2010. We conclude first that the media simplistically represent biological bases of addiction and willpower as being mutually exclusive: behaviors are either genetically determined, or they are a choice. Second, most articles provide only cursory or no treatment of the environmental contribution. A media focus on genetics directs attention away from environmental factors. Rhetorically, media neglect the complexity underlying the etiology the addiction and direct focus back toward individual causation and responsibility.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	459-486
Number of pages	28
Journal	Science Technology and Human Values
Volume	40
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243914558491
State	Published - Jul 12 2015
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.

Keywords

addiction
behavioral genetics
discourse analysis
genetics
media
science and knowledge

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10.1177/0162243914558491

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abstract = "To understand public discourse in the United States on genetic causation of behavioral disorders, we analyzed media representations of genetic research on addiction published between 1990 and 2010. We conclude first that the media simplistically represent biological bases of addiction and willpower as being mutually exclusive: behaviors are either genetically determined, or they are a choice. Second, most articles provide only cursory or no treatment of the environmental contribution. A media focus on genetics directs attention away from environmental factors. Rhetorically, media neglect the complexity underlying the etiology the addiction and direct focus back toward individual causation and responsibility.",

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AU - Ostergren, Jenny

AU - McCormick, Jennifer B.

AU - Hammer, Rachel

AU - Koenig, Barbara A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

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N2 - To understand public discourse in the United States on genetic causation of behavioral disorders, we analyzed media representations of genetic research on addiction published between 1990 and 2010. We conclude first that the media simplistically represent biological bases of addiction and willpower as being mutually exclusive: behaviors are either genetically determined, or they are a choice. Second, most articles provide only cursory or no treatment of the environmental contribution. A media focus on genetics directs attention away from environmental factors. Rhetorically, media neglect the complexity underlying the etiology the addiction and direct focus back toward individual causation and responsibility.

AB - To understand public discourse in the United States on genetic causation of behavioral disorders, we analyzed media representations of genetic research on addiction published between 1990 and 2010. We conclude first that the media simplistically represent biological bases of addiction and willpower as being mutually exclusive: behaviors are either genetically determined, or they are a choice. Second, most articles provide only cursory or no treatment of the environmental contribution. A media focus on genetics directs attention away from environmental factors. Rhetorically, media neglect the complexity underlying the etiology the addiction and direct focus back toward individual causation and responsibility.

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KW - discourse analysis

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The Media and Behavioral Genetics: Alternatives Coexisting with Addiction Genetics

Abstract

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