Stanton Peele and Richard DeGrandpre

While many people would like to believe that alcoholism is genetic and therefore beyond individual control, in the following viewpoint Stanton Peele and Richard DeGrandpre contend that there is little scientific proof for that argument. They argue that the search for a genetic basis for alcoholism is part of a larger trend toward blaming everything on genetics and insisting that no one is personally responsible for their actions. The authors point out that when people believe that their personality and other traits are genetically determined at birth, they are conveniently absolved from having to behave themselves and conform to laws. Stanton Peele is a psychologist and researcher specializing in drug and alcohol addiction. Richard DeGrandpre is a visiting professor of psychology at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont...