SOC GEN 161

Main Course

Controversy and Behavior Genetics

Description

Seminar, three hours. Behavior genetics is controversial and seeks genetic links to intelligence, personality, mental illness, and criminality, among many other traits. It explores differences between individuals, men and women, or racial groups, and what social policies might do about those differences. Analysis of causes and effects of controversy in behavior genetics using critical sociology and history. Consideration of scientific disputes between behavior geneticists and their critics, distinctive history and social organization of behavior genetics as group of scientists, and public reception of behavior genetics and disputes about its social and policy implications. Letter grading.