The Politics of the Gene: Social Status and Beliefs about Genetics for Individual Outcomes

Autor/inn/en	Shostak, Sara; Freese, Jeremy; Link, Bruce G.; Phelan, Jo C.
Titel	The Politics of the Gene: Social Status and Beliefs about Genetics for Individual Outcomes
Quelle	In: Social Psychology Quarterly, 72 (2009) 1, S.77-93 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0190-2725
DOI	10.1177/019027250907200107
Schlagwörter	Social Status; Political Attitudes; Mental Disorders; Individual Differences; Genetics; Social Scientists; Advantaged; Beliefs; Diseases; Intelligence; Personality; Public Policy; Prediction; Social Attitudes; Physical Health; Correlation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Sozialer Status; Political attitude; Politische Einstellung; Mental illness; Geisteskrankheit; Individueller Unterschied; Humangenetik; Social scientist; Sozialwissenschaftler; Belief; Glaube; Disease; Krankheit; Intelligenz; Klugheit; Personalität; Öffentliche Ordnung; Vorhersage; Social attidude; Soziale Einstellung; Gesundheitszustand; Korrelation
Abstract	Social scientists have predicted that individuals who occupy socially privileged positions or who have conservative political orientations are most likely to endorse the idea that genes are the root cause of differences among individuals. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of the US population, this study examines belief in the importance of genes for understanding individual differences in a series of broad domains: physical illness, serious mental illness, intelligence, personality, and success in life. We also assess whether the belief that genetics are important for these outcomes is more common among those in relatively advantaged positions or among those who are more politically conservative. Finally, we consider whether such beliefs predict attitudes toward genetics-related social policies. Our analyses suggest that belief in the importance of genetics for individual differences may well have a substantial effect on attitudes toward genetics-related policies, independent of political orientation or other measures. Our study identifies high levels of endorsement for genes as causes of health and social outcomes. We describe a cultural schema in which outcomes that are "closer to the body" are more commonly attributed to genetics. Contrary to expectations, however, we find little evidence that it is more common for whites, the socioeconomically advantaged, or political conservatives to believe that genetics are important for health and social outcomes. (Contains 5 tables and 9 footnotes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10