Skip to main content
Log in

Behavioral genetics: Psychoreligious implications

  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Behavioral genetics is a relatively new science that has made many significant advances over the past few years. Many of the principles and findings that these advances have generated have direct and indirect implications for the understanding of psychological, moral, and religious development. This article discusses two especially relevant issues, followed by eight practical implications for parents, religious educators, ministers, and pastoral counselors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buss, D. M. (1990). Toward a biologically informed psychology of personality.Journal of Personality, 58, 1–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyfuss, R. C. & Nelkin, D. (1992). The jurisprudence of genetics.Vanderbilt Law Review, 45, 313–348.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, J. W. (1981).Stages of faith The psychology of human development and the quest for meaning. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilligan, C. (1982).In a different voice: Psychological theory and women's development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith, H. H. (1983). Genetic influences on personality from infancy to adulthood.Child Development, 54, 331–355.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gottesman, I.I. (1974). Developmental genetics and ontogenetic psychology. In A. Pick (Ed.).Minnesota Symposia in Psychology,12, 55–180.

  • Hamacheck, D. (1992).Encounter with the self. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohlberg, L. (1984).Essays on moral development, Vol. 2, San Francisco: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loehlin, J. C., Horn, J. M. & Willerman, L. (1981). Personality resemblance in adopted families.Behavior Genetics, 11, 309–330.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. G., Eaves, L. J., Heath, A. C., Jardine, R., Feingood, L. M., & Eysenck, H. (1986). Transmission of social attitudes.Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 83, 4364–4368.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGue, M., Bacon, S., & Lykken, D. T. (1993). Personality stability and change in early adulthood: A behavioral genetic analysis.Developmental Psychology, 29, 96–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piaget, J. (1932).The moral judgements of the child. New York: The Free Press (reprinted 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R. & Daniels, D. (1987). Why are children in the same family so different from one another?Behavioral Brain Sciences, 10, 1–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R. (1989). Environment and genes: Determinants of behavior.American Psychologist, 44, 105–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R. (1990). The role of inheritance in behavior.Science, 248, 183–188.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R., Lichenstein, P., Pedersen, N. L., McClearn, G. E., & Nesselroade, J. R. (1990). Genetic influence on life events during the last half of the life span.Psychology and Aging, 5, 25–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R. & Rende, R. (1991). Human behavior genetics.Annual Review of Psychology, 42, 161–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. L., Kagan, J., Reznick, J. S., & Corley, R. (1992). The heritability of inhibited and uninhibited behavior: A twin study.Developmental Psychology, 28, 1030–1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waller, N. G., Kojetin, B. A., Bouchard, T. J., Lykken, D. T., & Tellegen, A. (1990). Genetic and environmental influences on religious interests, attitudes and values: A study of twins reared apart and together.Psychological Science, 1, 138–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeigler, E. & Seitz, V. (1982). Social policy and intelligence (pp. 586–541). In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.),Handbook of human intelligence. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cavanagh, M.E. Behavioral genetics: Psychoreligious implications. Pastoral Psychol 44, 363–370 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02297798

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02297798

Keywords

Navigation