Human behavior is both an object of scientific inquiry and public fascination. This symposium will explore the complexity of gene-environment interactions in mediating behavior, as well as the complexity of the relationship between scientific and social interpretations of behavior. Through a series of brief presentations and a deliberative discussion, we will explore the following questions: What level of explanation should be used to talk about behavior, and in which domains? How is behavior conceptualized and studied? What is the dynamic between changing social values and emerging behavioral genetic findings? We hope this discussion will foster communication and new approaches to advancing this dynamic area of research.
The symposium format will include brief presentations from each speaker with interspersed deliberative discussion among the speakers and audience.