There are two kinds of hereditary influence, genetic inheritance and biological inheritance, that may respond to environmental determinants. The ability to speak is one genetically produced aspect of being human, and research studies based on the assumption that speech is innate to humans have found that infants appear to pay particular attention…

This paper argues that infants' affect patterns are innate and are meaningful indicators of individual differences in internal state. Videotapes of seven infants' faces were coded using an ethogram; the movement of the eyebrow, eye direction, eye openness, mouth shape, mouth position, lip position, and tongue protrusion were assessed…

Discusses the importance of and need for genetics education for both medical professionals and the public. The nature nurture controversy is included in terms of environmental conditions causing the expression of certain genetic predispositions. (MA)

A discussion of the dynamic interaction of nature and nurture variables in the development of an organism. A dialectical approach is used to integrate the possible interactions between these variables. (BD)

Recent work in the history of the sciences of man suggests that evolution's impact has been more pervasive in American culture since 1900 than it was before. Discusses the new evolutionists who succeeded the Social Darwinists after 1900 and their contributions to American culture. (Author/RK)

Longitudinal data on reaction time for children in the Berkeley Growth Study and the Oakland Growth Study were analyzed in terms of relative intraindividual variability. Findings indicated a major maturational and a minor learning component in the improvement of mean performance in simple reaction time with increasing age and experience.…

Argues that the sociobiological argument (i.e., that suicide is associated with reduced reproductive potential) seems to have little explanatory value and to misrepresent the variability in cross-cultural patterning of suicidal behavior. Proposes a biocultural theory of suicide which addresses both the specific situational stressors and the…

A revolution in genetics is occurring, but when looking ahead, we must not romanticize the past. The social history of genetics, and American education's association with eugenics, make it necessary that we understand that both education and science are informed by social attitudes. (MT)

Naturalistic observation of a set of identical twins revealed many differences in personality and motor development. (MS)

Measures of general cognitive ability in one- and two-year-old adopted and nonadopted infants and their parents were subjected to path analysis to estimate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to short-term stability of mental ability. (Author/RH)

Describes how black scholars countered racist conclusions from mental test data and highlights the black critique by focusing upon the decade when the nature/nurture controversy was at its zenith. The paradox of blacks' simultaneous critique and use of mental tests is explored in relationship to problems raised in the sociology of knowledge. (RH)

Examines recent developments in the American debate over heredity and environment. (RM)

Describes the methodological and statistical criteria neccessary for adequate measurement of organism-environment correlations and presents a path anaysis model as an approach to the study of these correlations. (BD)

Describes a methodology of behavior genetics in the context of twin and sibling/adoption design. This model was applied to cross-sectional data on cognitive development throughout the lifespan. Results from a twin and adoption study of general intelligence are presented to illustrate the use of the basic behavior genetic model in studying causes…

Social scientists are often concerned that research on biological causes of behavior will encourage biologically-based public policy. By simultaneously examining both social and biological causes of behavior, biosocial research models prevent simplistic biological thinking. Concludes that biosocial models clarify ethical problems rather than…