In the twentieth century, scientists swung between poles of genetic determinism and genetic denialism. The popular eugenics movements in the pre-war years typified a belief that our successes and foibles were inbuilt and unchangeable. After the atrocities of the Second World War were exposed, research culture swung towards the ‘blank slate’ – the idea that it is the environment that shapes our character. The truth is, inevitably, somewhere in the middle, though there are ongoing debates about which is dominant. Certainly, to deny the importance of genetics in influencing our behaviours is
...more
