genetic determinism
Genes dictate destiny
Genetic determinism is the view that genes entirely or predominantly determine human traits, behavior, and destiny—that biology is fate.
The term usually carries critical connotations, deployed against those seen as overemphasizing heredity at the expense of environment, choice, or social factors: Critics accused the researcher of genetic determinism.
Few scientists hold the position in its pure form.
Doctrine of fixed natures
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
naturalism · sociobiology · selfish gene · blank slate · human nature · innate
Hereditary code molecule
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
- allelesVariant forms of genes
chromosomes · traits · mutation · heritability · polygenic · monogenic · inheritance patterns · pedigree
Autonomous choice capacity
- agencyPower to act
- choiceAct of selecting
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- responsibilityState of being answerable
eugenics · bioethics · moral responsibility · blame · culpability · criminal behavior · designer babies
Predetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- inevitableCertain to occur
- immutableIncapable of being changed
- fixedRestored or immovable
unalterable · predestined · foreordained · born this way · inborn · hardwired · wired · programmed
essentialism
Doctrine of fixed natures
- reductionismExplaining wholes through parts
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
mechanism · naturalism · sociobiology · selfish gene · blank slate · human nature · innate
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- heredityGenetic trait transmission
alleles · chromosomes · traits · mutation · heritability · polygenic · monogenic · inheritance patterns · pedigree · dominant
free will
Autonomous choice capacity
responsibility · eugenics · bioethics · moral responsibility · blame · culpability · criminal behavior · designer babies
fate
Predetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- inevitableCertain to occur
- immutableIncapable of being changed
fixed · unalterable · predestined · foreordained · born this way · inborn · hardwired · wired · programmed · blueprint
- bioethicsbioethics, medical ethics, beneficence, non-maleficence, physician-assisted death
- geneticsDNA, allele, genotype, gene, chromosomes
- Dawkins Biologyselfish gene, meme, replicator, vehicle, The God Delusion
- Sociobiologysociobiology, natural selection, sexual selection, altruism, mating strategies
- disease theoriesgerm theory, hygiene hypothesis, etiology, pathogenesis, spontaneous generation
genetic determinismbehaviorism
Psychology studying observable conduct
tabula rasa · environmentalism · nurture · cultural relativism · conditioning
genetic determinismfree will
Autonomous choice capacity
self-determination · neuroplasticity · growth mindset · agency · voluntarism
genetic determinismnurture
Support growth and development
environmentalism · social environment · learned behavior · socialization · enculturation
determined, determine, genes, genetic, determining, genetics, predetermined, determines, genome