Discuss the Extent to Which Genetic Inheritance Influences Behavior with Reference to Relevant Research Studies

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The extent to which genetic inheritance influences our behaviour is a much-debated topic to date. Our genes determine and shape us, however there can be no single cause-and-effect relationship between genetics and behaviour. The influence of the environment must also be considered. One way to investigate this issue is to evaluate studies that have explored the role of genetics and/or the environment on intelligence. In particular the Minnesota Twin Study (Bouchard et al, 1990), Scarr and Weinberg (1977) and Horn et al. (1979) will be discussed as they all relevant to these issues. This essay will argue that our genes, while they play an important role, only influence our behaviour to some extent, as the environment must also be considered. Each of us receives 50 per cent of their genes from each of our biological parents. One means to better understand the extent that these genes play on intelligence and behaviour is to conduct identical twin studies where the twins are raised apart. As identical twins share 100 per cent the same genes, therefore if these twins are raised in separate environments and still show similarities, it is argued that these similarities can only be due to the genetic inheritance. In 1979 Bouchard started the Minnesota Twin Study, a longitudinal study which was eventually published in 1990. In this twin study he aimed to determine out how much of our intelligence can be attributed to our genes. The study compared IQs of MZTs (identical twins raised together) with MTAs (identical twins raised apart). The IQs of fraternal twins and biological siblings were also compared. To determine the IQ concordance rates, each of the participants was interviewed and tested for a total of 50 hours. Bouchard observed that although the twins were raised apart, similarities were quite noticeable. This led him to the heritability estimate of

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