Reading 22: ATTITUDES and GENETICS

READING 22

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1 – 13 which are based on Reading 22.

ATTITUDES and GENETICS

A         American Psychological Association has announced a study that shows that attitudes are earned, but that differences between people in many attitudes are also partly attributable to genetic factors. These include attitudes as diverse as whether one likes roller coaster rides to controversial social issues such as attitudes toward abortion and the death penalty for murder.

B         They surveyed 336 pairs of adult Canadian twins (both fraternal and identical) to explore the role of genetic factors in creating differences between individuals in attitudes. By comparing the responses to attitude questions between the identical and fraternal twins, (for example, "My overall attitude toward doing crossword puzzles is" with answers ranging from "extremely unfavorable" to "extremely favorable") the researchers were able to determine which attitudes were more influenced by genetic factors.

C         Of the 30 individual attitude items on the survey, 26 of them showed some genetic influence. The five which produced the largest genetic connection were attitudes toward reading books, abortion without restrictions, playing organized sports, roller coaster rides, and the death penalty for murder. The four items found to have no genetic effect were attitudes toward separate roles for men and women, playing bingo, easy access to birth control and being assertive.

D         Putting the individual attitude items into broader categories, the three factors having the largest genetic influence were attitudes toward the preservation of life (including attitudes toward abortion without restrictions, voluntary euthanasia and organized religion), attitudes toward equality (including attitudes toward making racial discrimination illegal, open-door immigration policies and getting along well with others), and attitudes toward athleticism (including attitudes toward doing athletic activities, playing organized sports and exercising). Factors having the smallest genetic

influence included attitudes toward intellectual pursuits (including attitudes toward reading books, doing crossword puzzles and playing chess).

E          Given that direct gene-to-attitude connections are extremely unlikely, what are the mechanisms that might account for the genetic component of attitudes? The researchers found that several personality traits and related characteristics--themselves highly heritable--may play a role. Sociability, in particular, showed a strong genetic connection with several attitudes. Athletic ability and physical attractiveness also produced significant genetic connections with certain attitudes.

F          Presumably, these characteristics predisposed individuals to form particular kinds of attitudes, thereby contributing to the genetic determination of individual differences in those attitudes. For example, a person with inherited physical abilities such as good coordination and strength might be more successful at sports than less athletically inclined individuals, resulting in the more athletic person developing favorable attitudes toward sports.

G         The researchers say it is important to keep in mind that nonshared environmental factors (unique experiences of each member of a twin pair) had the most powerful contribution to attitudes. However, more research is needed on the role of biological influences, including genetic factors, in the formation and change of attitudes. In the long run, we will gain the most understanding from perspectives that integrate biology and experience in accounting for individual differences.

Questions 1 – 3

Answer questions 1 – 3 by writing the appropriate letters A – G in boxes 1 – 3 on your answer sheet.

1. Which paragraph explains how the survey was done?

2. Which paragraph states the researchers‘ findings on gene-to-attitude connections?

3. Which paragraph mentions factors that had the most powerful contribution to attitudes?

Questions 4 – 8

Complete the table below. Use NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS from the passage. Write your answers in boxes 4 – 8 on your answer sheet.

The five attitudes that produced the largest genetic connections include attitudes toward :	Putting the individual attitude items into broader categories, the three factors having the largest genetic influence were attitudes toward :
reading books,	… 7 ...
… 4 ...	… 8 ….
playing organized sports	athleticism
… 5 …
… 6 …

Questions 9 - 13

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading 22?

In boxes 9 – 13 on your answer sheet write

YES                         if the statement agrees with the writer

NO                           if the statement does not agree with the writer.

NOT GIVEN           if there is no information about this in the passage

9. Attributes are earned; genetic factors have no role in fostering a person‘s attitude.

10. The survey was conducted by Canadian scientists while result of the survey was announced by the American Psychological Association.

11. Of the 30 individual attitude items on the survey, there were four items that were found to have no genetic effect.

12. With human beings, there are a number of personality traits and related characteristics that are heritable.

13. Researchers still need to determine the role of biological influences in the formation