WOULD THE LAST ONE WITH FREE WILL PLEASE CHOOSE TO TURN OUT THE LIGHTS?

Stereotypes add up on math tests (Stephanie Levitz, Globe and Mail, October 19th, 2006)

Telling a female that girls aren't naturally good at math will probably make her bomb out on tests, researchers at the University of British Columbia have found.

Though the research adds fuel to the long-simmering debate on gender difference in math ability, the UBC team says its study also has implications for how scientists should handle discoveries of genes linked to mental and physical conditions.[...]

“The influence of genes on behaviour is enormously complex but unfortunately the way these messages are conveyed are in grossly simplified terms,” said Steven Heine, an associate professor of social psychology at UBC and the co-author of the study.

He cited the example of the discovery of a link between genetics and obesity.

“People seem to interpret it as meaning that if I have this gene I must become obese,” he said.

“The relations between genes and behaviour are very complex and unfortunately people do view them in more deterministic terms than they ought to.”

Determinist: “There is no such thing as free will. All our actions and beliefs are determined by (evolution, genetics, the sub-conscious, history, etc.)."

Sceptic: “Including your belief in determinism?”

Determinist: “Oh well, if you are going to be silly about it.”