THE GENE ILLUSION: Genetic Research in Psychiatry and Psychology Under the Microscope
By Jay Joseph, Psy.D.
Paperback - 348 pages (January 2003)
PCCS Books Ltd; ISBN: 1898059470

 
What are the forces shaping who we are, how we live, and how we act? Are we shaped primarily by our environment, or by our genes? These very old questions form the basis of the so-called "nature-nurture debate." Increasingly, we are told that research has confirmed the importance of genetic factors influencing physical and psychiatric disorders, personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, criminality, and so on. Jay Joseph's timely, challenging book provides a much-needed critical appraisal of the evidence cited in support of genetic theories. Far from establishing the importance of genes, he shows that family, twin and adoption studies are plagued by researcher bias, unsound methodology, and a reliance on unsupported theoretical assumptions.

Furthermore, he demonstrates how this research has been used to support the interests of those attempting to bolster conservative social and political agendas. Much of the scientific evidence cited as supporting these ideas has been produced by the fields of behavior genetics and psychiatric genetics. It has been delivered to the public in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, as well as by the authors of several popular books. In particular, studies of twins (both reared together and reared apart) have been cited as providing conclusive evidence supporting the importance of genetic influences on psychological trait differences. The reared-apart twin studies by researchers at the University of Minnesota have been the subject of much attention, including stories of individual pairs of reared-apart identical twins who, it is claimed, displayed remarkable similarities upon being reunited. Family and adoption studies are also cited in support of the importance of genetic factors.

Schizophrenia is the most studied, and at the same time the most feared and misunderstood, of all psychiatric diagnoses. Two chapters are devoted to problems with genetic research in this area. One of these chapters reviews the schizophrenia adoption studies, which include the well-known and frequently cited Danish-American and Finnish investigations. Another chapter looks into the alleged genetic basis of criminal behavior - an idea more popular today than at any time in the past 50 years. Additional chapters look into other areas of current interest in genetics, such as IQ, heritability, and molecular genetic research. Regarding the latter, in Chapter 10 Joseph concludes that it is unlikely that genes for the major psychiatric disorders will be found.
 
In contrast to the bleak view of humans and their future laid out by those claiming that heredity is of overriding importance, there exists a radically different perspective. Human suffering is not caused by peoples' genes. Rather, it is caused by well-known and well- documented psychologically traumatic
events and environments. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking an alternative to the increasingly popular, yet mistaken view that "genes are destiny." Potential buyers and readers include psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, geneticists, political decision makers, and others in the general audience interested in the issues raised in this book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1) Introduction Chapter 2) Twin Research: Misunderstanding Twins from
Galton to the 21st Century Chapter 3) The Twin Method: An Environmentally
Confounded Research Method Chapter 4) A Critique of Studies of Twins Reared
Apart Chapter 5) The Heritability Concept: A Measure of Inheritance or
Inherently Misleading? Chapter 6) The Genetics of Schizophrenia I: Overview
Chapter 7) The Genetics of Schizophrenia II: Adoption Studies Chapter 8) Is
Criminal Behavior in the Genes? A Critical Review of Twin and Adoption
Studies of Criminal and Antisocial Behavior Chapter 9) Genetics and IQ
Chapter 10) Molecular Genetic Studies in Psychiatry and Psychology: An
Exercise
in Futility? Chapter 11) Where Do We Go From Here?

CONTACT INFORMATION
 
Publisher: PCCS Books, Llangarron, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6PT, United
Kingdom. E-mail: enquiries@pccsbks.globalnet.co.uk.
 
Website: www.pccs-books.co.uk. Telephone: +44 (0) 1989 77 07 07
 
Author: Jay Joseph, Psy.D., P.O. Box 5653, Berkeley, CA, 94705-5653, USA.
 
E-mail: jayjoseph2@aol.com. Telephone: (510) 295-7100.
 
Jay Joseph, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist living in Berkeley, CA, and
practicing in Hayward, CA. Since 1998, his articles on genetic research in
psychiatry and psychology have appeared in journals such as Developmental
Review, The American Journal of Psychology, Genetic, Social, and General
Psychology Monographs, Politics and the Life Sciences, The Journal of Mind and
Behavior, Psychiatric Quarterly, New Ideas in Psychology, and Ethical Human
Sciences and Services. He is currently an Associate Editor of Ethical Human
Sciences and Services, and an Assessing Editor of The Journal of Mind and
Behavior. The Gene Illusion is his first book.