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Published on: November 21, 2019
Tilting at Twindmills: rethinking sociological responses to behavioral genetics
1Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53711, USA. jfreese@ssc.wisc.edu
Abstract:
While we commend Horwitz et al. (2003) for speaking to core issues in behavioral genetics, we disagree with many particulars of their article. We are skeptical of their claims regarding the particular contribution offered by both their methods and data. We believe also that the findings they present as challenging the equal environments assumption are, upon closer examination, not persuasive. Most fundamentally, we worry that the way in which Horwitz et al. conceptualize the relationship between genes and environments is not the best means of doing so for sociologists interested in engaging behavioral genetics.
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