The Gene Illusion: Genetic research in psychiatry and psychology under the microscope. (Paperback)

The claim that psychiatric disorders are biological and genetic in origin has done a great deal of harm to the mental health professions and their clients. Dr Jay Joseph's book should be read by anyone interested in a genuinely scientific analysis of the myths of biological psychiatry. --Peter R Breggin MD, Author, Toxic Psychiatry

Whether or not, for example, 'schizophrenia' has a genetic basis could scarcely arise as a sensible question if we took seriously the doubts that have been cast on its validity as a concept ('schizophrenia', indeed, is a prime example of an entity that, not exisiting, had to be invented - see Boyle, 2002). But as long as the discourse of power chooses 'science' as one of its languages, it needs to be answered appropriately. In this respect, Jay Joseph performs a huge service to those who need to counter the speciousness of so many of the claims in this area with carefully argued and thoroughly documented examples of where they go wrong. In doing this he helps keep alive the version of science that really does deserve our allegiance. --David Smail, JCPCP Vol 3 Issue 3

Jay Joseph's book provides a solid foundation for critical approaches to twin studies. It will be essential reading for anyone working inthe sphere of human sciences an dpsychology and interested inthe fundamentalclaims of their own discipline, but written in such a way that the interested lay reader will also benefit. --Chris Goodey, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 32.

Jay Joseph's timely, challenging book provides a much-needed rebuttal of the evidence cited in support of genetic theories. Far from establishing the importance of genes, this book shows that family, twin, and adoption studies are plagued by researcher bias, unsound methodology, and a reliance on unsupported theoretical assumptions. Furthermore, he demonstrates how this research has been used to support the interests of those attempting to bolster conservative social and political agendas. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking an alternative to the increasingly popular, yet mistaken view that 'genes are destiny'. What are the forces shaping who we are, how we live, and how we act? Are we shaped primarily by our environment, or by our genes? These are very old questions, and form the basis of the 'nature-nurture debate'. Increasingly, we are told that research has confirmed the importance of genetic factors influencing physical and psychiatric disorders, personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, criminality, and so on. Much of the scientific evidence cited as supporting these ideas has been produced by the fields of behaviour genetics and psychiatric genetics. It has been delivered to the public in numerous magazine and newspaper articles, as well as by the authors of several popular books. In particular, studies of twins (both reared together and reared apart) have been cited as providing conclusive evidence supporting the importance of genetic influences on psychological trait differences. The reared-apart twin studies by researchers at the University of Minnesota have been the subject of much attention, including stories of individual pairs of reared-apart identical twins who, it is claimed, displayed remarkable similarities upon being reunited. Family and adoption studies are also cited in support of the importance of genetic factors. Schizophrenia is the most studied, and at the same time the most feared and misunderstood, of all psychiatric diagnoses. Two chapters are devoted to problems with genetic research in this area. One of these chapters reviews the schizophrenia adoption studies, which include the well-known and frequently cited Danish-American and Finnish investigations. Another chapter looks into the alleged genetic basis of criminal behavior an idea more popular today than at any time in the past 50 years. Additional chapters look into other areas of current interest in genetics, such as IQ, heritability, and molecular genetic research. In contrast to the bleak view of humans and their future laid out by those claiming that heredity is of overriding importance, there exists a radically different perspective. The threat to the future of humanity does not come from peoples' genes. Rather, it comes from well-known and well-documented psychologically traumatic events and environments.