The Gene Illusion

Subtitled 'Genetic Research in Psychiatry and Psychology under the Microscope', this books challenges the evidence cited in support of genetic theories in these fields. The author contends that the twin and adoption studies are fraught with researcher bias, unsound methodology and dicey theoretical assumptions. Specifically, he concludes that there is little evidence that criminality and schizophrenia have a genetic basis and that the very concepts are controversial and hard to define. The book confines itself to the scientific rather than philosophical issues, although its arguments do have considerable implications in this respect.