On the Usefulness of Behavior Genetics: Using Family Studies in Evolutionary Psychological Science to Improve Causal Inference and Sharpen Theory

Abstract

Objectives

We argue that research in the psychological sciences testing evolutionarily informed questions could benefit considerably from more frequent use of techniques common in behavior genetics.

Methods

We review some of the reasons why data and analytical strategies in behavior genetics confer certain advantages over more traditional forms of data analysis. In particular, we focus on the wide availability of secondary data, the generalizability of data, the capacity of certain designs to bolster causal inference capabilities, and the overall adaptability of the research designs to a wide array of empirical questions.

Results

Not only do we show how the use of sibling designs can be of methodological assistance, but we also demonstrate how they can play a role in refining theories informed by evolution. In order to give a more concrete vision of what this can look like, we offer a type of case study using prior work which has already taken advantage of behavior genetic tools.

Conclusions

Because of the efforts to situate psychological science in the context of evolutionary biology, the field has undergone considerable intellectual growth. We suggest that by simply making more frequent use of tools in behavior genetics, the fields of psychology might further accelerate the progress that is already well underway.