Heredity and Environment

Which is the dominant factor in determining a person's behavior - one's genes or one's surroundings? All relevant theory on the subject relies on the interaction between heredity and environment, but there is a great difference of opinion as to which is the controlling element. In this thought-provoking examination of the ancient, but still unanswered question of nature and nurture, A. H. Halsey has assembled a unique set of readings demonstrating the scope and complexity of the problem, and illustrates the scientific progress made in an effort to solve it.
The editor has chosen works from a number of disciplines - sociology, biology, psychology, ethology, demography, genetics, anthropology, and economics. The sixteen selections provide a well-balanced look at the controversies surrounding heredity and environment. Each contributor offers a strong argument in an attempt to prove the validity of his or her research findings and opinions.
Among the contributors are such well known and respected authorities as:
- T. Dobzhansky
- N. Tinbergen
- B. K. Eckland
- A. R. Jensen
- P. V. Tobias
They focus on three areas of substantive research: fertility and population control, intelligence and social stratification, and the explanation of differential achievement between races. Their provocative approaches to these issues will lead one to a better understanding of geneticism and environmentalism.