Can biological approaches explain (im)moral behavior? Problems and potentials of studies focused on a genetic predisposition of human behavior

Abstract

Sociologists traditionally assumed that biological factors can be excluded in the pursuit of explanations for moral behavior. On the contrary, a number of empirical studies in recent years mentioned the influence of biological factors on the capacity of morality. Especially an often-cited study by Avshalom Caspi et al. (2002a) shows a statistically proven influence of a genetic predisposition on antisocial behavior. Thereby, the question arises to what extent moral capacity is genetically pre-determined. This paper is meant to discuss some methodological problems occurring in studies where a genetic predisposition towards moral or immoral behavior is suggested. It is argued that especially the insufficient use of further independent variables gives the impression of compelling evidence that biological factors explain human behavior in general and moral behavior in particular. Referring to these methodological problems and new molecular genetic knowledge, it is further argued that the research potential of biological concepts could lie less in efforts to identify specific genes associated with a specific behavior than in helping to underpin theoretical cognitive models.