Behavior Genetics

Behavior Genetics

Human Behavior Genetics

To illustrate a point concerning the inheritance of gestures, Charles

Darwin quoted an interesting case that had been brought to his attention by

Galton.

A gentleman of considerable position was found by his wife to

have the curious trick, when he lay fast asleep on his back in

bed, of raising his right arm slowly in front of his face, up to his

forehead, and then dropping it with a jerk so that the wrist fell

heavily on the bridge of this nose. The trick did not occur every

night but occasionally.   Many years after his death, his son

married a lady who had never heard of the family incident. She,

however, observed precisely the same peculiarity in her

husband...One of his children, a girl, has inherited the same

trick.” (Darwin, 1872: 33-34)

Probably everyone could cite some examples, perhaps not as quaint as

Galton’s, in which some peculiarity of gait, quality of temper, degree of

talent, or other trait is characteristic of a family, and such phrases as “a chip

off the old block”, “like father, like son,” and “it runs in the family” give

ample evidence of the general acceptance of the idea that behavioral traits

may be inherited, as are physical ones.
Discussion

What Is Behavioral Genetics:

Behavioral genetics is simply the intersection between genetics and the

behavioral sciences. Behavioral geneticists are currently applying the various

techniques of genetic analysis to various behavioral characters in order to

learn more about them. The characters under study are diverse, varying in

subject from homosexuality, IQ, and even hostility.

Homosexuality:

Many theories have been presented to explain homosexuality behavior

in humans. Two of these such theories are E. Slater’s Birth order and

maternal age of homosexuals theory and hormonal differences.

Birth Order and Maternal Age of Homosexuals:...