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Metaphors in behavioral genetics.

A Nordgren1

  • 1Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences (Biomedical Ethics), Uppsala University, Sweden.

Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
|May 9, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Metaphors are crucial for understanding genes and behavior in behavioral genetics research. Analysis reveals these metaphors emphasize gene-environment interactions, avoiding deterministic views.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Genetics
  • Scientific Communication

Background:

  • Metaphors are frequently employed in scientific discourse.
  • Their specific role in behavioral genetics, particularly concerning gene-behavior relationships, requires examination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the types and functions of metaphors used in behavioral genetics.
  • To investigate whether these metaphors support deterministic or interactionist viewpoints.

Main Methods:

  • Content analysis of five sample texts from behavioral genetics.
  • Texts included a popular book, textbook, review article, and two original research articles.

Main Results:

  • Metaphors were prevalent across all analyzed text types, not limited to popular or introductory materials.
  • The majority of metaphors identified were antideterministic, highlighting gene-environment interactions.
  • Historically deterministic metaphors were often qualified, avoided, or rejected.

Conclusions:

  • Metaphors play a fundamental role in scientific understanding within behavioral genetics, beyond mere rhetoric or pedagogy.
  • Current metaphors in the field tend to reflect an interactionist perspective on gene-behavior relationships.
  • Further research is needed to ascertain if this antideterministic trend is representative of the field at large.
Keywords:
Analytical ApproachEmpirical ApproachGenetics and Reproduction

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