hereditarianism
/həˌrɛdɪˈtɛriənɪzəm/
noun
- The belief that a person's abilities, personality, and behavior are mainly determined by their genes (heredity) rather than by their environment or upbringing.
- Hereditarianism was once used to argue that intelligence is fixed at birth.
- The debate between hereditarianism and environmentalism continues in psychology and sociology.
- Many scientists today reject strict hereditarianism because they see how education and experience shape people.
Synonyms