Genetic link to violence, delinquency

[Van Canna]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080714/hl_ ... s_genes_dc


Do the genes really control the behavior, or does treatment and environment in childhood control the effects genes have on behavior? Does having meals with your family as a youth really prevent a "violent gene" from turning on?

[IJ]

Behavior, personality, predisposition to antisocial behavior, food preferences and the like... there's a complex mix of multiple genes and the environment probably at work. But genes rarely control anyone's destiny... even when they guarantee you get cystic fibrosis, many other genetic and environmental factors affect your health **as do many conscious choices**. Bad behavior is volitional, and even if it weren't, cries to change our response shouldn't change. I don't really care if pedophiles have strong urges, for example--gotta do whatcha gotta do.

[Bill Glasheen]

This is sort of like heart disease and the risk of a heart attack. It's a multifactorial proposition.

What we are and how we behave is a complex mix of nature and nurture. But I'm with Ian on using any of this in a game of blame and excuses. A society can and should create expectations, and emphasize the ability of all to choose.

What we're dealing with is probability, statistics, and associations. For example the likelihood that my son will be the next Einstein is small because of the hand he was dealt. But he still can make a lot with what he has - or not.

There's little pure causality here. But with certain initial conditions, bad things can happen more often that we wish they would.

- Bill