Overview
- Telling people their behavior is because of their genes has several ethical considerations
- There can be anxiety for the parents and children
- Should you tell parents that they have a short serotonin transporter gene and may have passed on this gene to their children?
- Stigmas can be attached like for the 'psychopath gene'
- It is unlikely that all males with XYY chromosomes are criminals
- If genes are linked to intelligence then being told you have 'stupid genes' may make you feel powerless
Criminal Genes
(Barnes et al., 2011)
- Their research found that genes may affect whether people choose a life of crime
- This kind of research can brand criminal gene possessors as incapable of changing because they are simply born criminals
- Therefore criminals with these genes may be less inclined to change
- They may even believe change isn't possible
- Using the criminal gene argument in court could lead the jury to reduce the sentence for the offender because the crime wasn't his/her fault
- Is this what psychological research should be used for?
Addiction Genes (Morozova et al., 2012)
- PKNOX2 gene has been linked to addictive behavior
- Children can acquire the PKNOX2 gene from their parents
- Is it ethical to tell the parents that their genes may be responsible for their child's addition?
- Telling substance abusers that it is because of their genes removes personal responsibility
- They may feel powerless to break their addiction
Depressed Genes
(Collier et al., 1996)
- 5-HTT serotonin gene has two versions
- Short version produces less serotonin
- Long version produces more serotonin
- Bipolar and depressed patients are more likely to have the short transporter gene
- Telling patients they have the short transporter gene may be counterproductive to therapy because they feel they are destined to be depressed or bipolar by their genes
- Telling parents may make them feel responsible for their child's mental disorder
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