Human Differences

Differences, what do you mean differences? Aren’t we all the same? Male-female, white-black-yellow, lower class-upper class, rich-poor?

Well, John Locke thought so, or at least that we were potentially so - thus the creation of the tabula rasa concept which became an integral part of modern equalitarianism, our civic religion, as Edward O. Wilson calls it. But what does the evidence show after we bypass the taboo created by our modern Christian/marxist egalitarian faith? We will investigate three areas: individual, race/ethnic, and sex differences. Instead of just providing pro and con arguments, we hope to provide a little sense of the nature of the protagonists as well. Since individual differences are both the most instructive and the least sensitive, we’ll begin with them. First let us take an on-line overview of the whole area of human differences.

Let’s start with Edward O. Wilson’s keynote address, Science and Ideology, given to the 1994 convention of the National Association of Scholars in Cambridge MA. It’s an excellent overview of the conflict between a biological and an ideological view of mankind, from the biological standpoint. At the end of the article he mentions the coming "IQ wars." Of course, this was in reference to the newly published best seller by Herrnstein and Murray, The Bell Curve. This book really broke the discussion wide open for the first time in many years. For an insightful (some might say inciteful) example of the ideological approach, read Steven J. Rosenthal's review of The Bell Curve entitled appropriately, Academic Nazism. Rosenthal beautifully demonstrates the ideological uses of the pejorative in contemporary scientific discussion. For a less outraged view of The Bell Curve read Thomas J. Bouchard's review, Breaking the Last Taboo from the APA journal Contemporary Psychology. Follow this with the opinions of fifty-two scholars in Mainstream Science on Intelligence, as published in The Wall Street Journal. Glayde Whitney censored presidential address to the Behavior Genetics Association in June 1995 shows the difficulty of overcoming taboos.

If you’re still interested in exploring the subject of human differences on-line, Frank Miele's excellent review of evolutionary psychology, as published in Skeptic and will set you up to tackle the detailed bibliography which follows and Gavan Tredoux’s essay, Ethnicity and Ideology, will introduce the subject of ethnicity for a further understanding of the ideological and psychological force (introduced by Wilson) that drives much of contemporary thought and public statement.

Suggested Introductory web documents

• Science and Ideology by Edward O. Wilson
• Academic Nazism by Steven J. Rosenthal.
• Breaking the Last Taboo by Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr.
• Mainstream Science on Intelligence Statement in the December 13, 1994 Wall Street Journal signed by 52 scientists.
• A brief overview of evolutionary psychology from Skeptic magazine, written by Frank Miele.
• Ethnicity and Ideology by Gavan Tredoux (Upstream)

Bibliography for further reading

The Library: Books pages (as well as The Latest!: Books/Articles) contain many excellent books and current articles on the subject. A few listed there, and some not, are highlighted below along with some important published papers. Within each sub-category, books and articles are listed in terms of importance in the opinion of the Webmaster. Most works are listed in more than one section since their interests are fairly general. The differing order in different sections would indicate their differing value for each section. A number of books have links to book reviews and more will be added in the future.

Following each section is a listing of the most significant journal articles in the three categories of human differences. The pivotal issue of shared vs non-shared (gene-environment interaction) environment is addressed by the articles in the section under individual differences. The full text of some of these are available here. Any suggestions for additions will be appreciated. Enjoy yourself!

Individual Differences

On the biology and evolution of human differences

• The Limits of Family Influence, David C. Rowe, 1994.
• Bittersweet Destiny: The Stormy Evolution of Human Behavior, Del Theissen, Transaction Publishers, 1996.
• Nature and Man’s Fate, Garrett Hardin
• On Human Nature, Edward O. Wilson
• Nature's Mind, Michael S. Gazzaniga, 1992.

On the history of nature vs nurture

• In Search of Human Nature: The Decline and Revival of Darwinism in American Social Thought, Carl N. Degler, Oxford University Press, 1991.
• The Raising of Intelligence, Herman J. Spitz, 1987.
• Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth, Derek Freeman
• Evolution, Marxian Biology, and the Social Scene, Conway Zirkle
• Freudian Fraud, E. Fuller Torrey

On social issues

• The Bell Curve, Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, 1994.
• A Question of Intelligence, Daniel Seligman
• Straight Talk About Mental Tests, Arthur R. Jensen
• The IQ Controversy, Mark Snyderman and Stanley Rothman
• The Decline of Intelligence in America: A Strategy for National Renewal, Seymour W. Itzkoff

Important Journal Articles on individual differences

• "Developmental Theories for the 1990's: Development and Individual Differences," Sandra Scarr, Child Development, V63, 1-19, 1992. (Presidential Address)
• "Biological and Cultural Diversity: The Legacy of Darwin for Development," Sandra Scarr, Child Development, V64, 1333-1353, 1993.
• "Developmental Behavioral Genetics," Robert Plomin, Child Development, Apr 1983.
• "Sources of Human Psychological Differences: The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart," Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr., David T. Lykken, Matthew McGue, Nancy L. Segal, Auke Tellegen, Science, V250, Oct. 12, 1990, 223-228.
• "Genes, Environment, and Personality," Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr., Science, June 17, 1994.
• "Spearman's g and the Problem of Educational Equality ," Arthur R. Jensen, The Oxford Review of Education, Vol. 17, No. 2, 1991.
• "Doing Something About g," Chris Brand, Intelligence, May-June 1996, 311-326.
• "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns," Report of a Task Force established by the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association, American Psychologist, Feburary 1996, 77-101. (This is the pre-issued release.)

Race and Ethnicity

On the biology and evolution of race differences

• Why Race Matters: Race Differences and What They Mean, Michael Levin, Praeger, 1997.
• Race, Evolution, and Behavior, J. Philippe Rushton
• Race, John R. Baker, 1972.
• The Evolution of Man and Society, C. D. Darlington
• The Road To Equality: Evolution and Social Reality, Seymour W. Itzkoff

On the history of nature vs nurture

• In Search of Human Nature: The Decline and Revival of Darwinism in American Social Thought, Carl N. Degler, Oxford University Press, 1991.
• Heredity and Humanity: Race, Eugenics and Modern Science, Roger Pearson, 1996.
• Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth, Derek Freeman
• Evolution, Marxian Biology, and the Social Scene, Conway Zirkle
• Race, Intelligence and Bias in Academe, Roger Pearson, 1992.
• Freudian Fraud, E. Fuller Torrey
• Storm Over Biology, Bernard D. Davis, 1986.

On ethnicity, state, and nation

• Ethnonationalism: The Quest for Understanding, Walker Conner
• Human Intelligence and National Power: A Political Essay in Sociobiology, Seymour W. Itzkoff
• Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Donald Horowitz, 1985.
• Pandaemonium: Ethnicity in International Politics, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, 1993.

On social issues and race

• The Bell Curve, Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, 1994.
• Paved with Good Intentions, The Failure of Race Relations in Contemporary America, Jared Taylor
• Shockley on Race and Eugenics, Roger Pearson, 1993.
• A Question of Intelligence, Daniel Seligman
• Education and Ethnicity, Ralph Scott
• Straight Talk About Mental Tests, Arthur R. Jensen
• Forced Justice, David J. Armour
• The IQ Controversy, Mark Snyderman and Stanley Rothman
• The Decline of Intelligence in America: A Strategy for National Renewal, Seymour W. Itzkoff
• The Kerner Report

Important Journal Articles on race/ethnic differences

• "The Secular Increase in IQ and Longitudinal Changes in the Magnitude of the Black-White Difference: Evidence from the NLSY," by Charles Murray. An Address before the Behavior Genetic Association, July 1999.
• "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns," Report of a Task Force established by the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association, American Psychologist, Feburary 1996, 77-101. (This is the pre-issued release.)
• Race, genetics, and human reproductive strategies Genetic, Social & General Psychology Monographs (1996)
• Does Head Start Make a Difference?Janet Currie and Duncan Thomas, The American Economic Review. Vol. 85, No. 3. pp. 341-364, 1995.
• "The Equalitarian Dogma Revisited," J. Philippe Rushton, Intelligence," Nov-Dec 1994, 263-280.
• "Race Differences in Intelligence: A Global Perspective," Richard Lynn, The Mankind Quarterly, V31:3, Spring 1991, 255-296.
• "The Evolution of Racial Differences in Intelligence," Richard Lynn, The Mankind Quarterly, V32:1-2, Fall/Winter 1991, 193-198.
• "Ideology and Censorship in Behavior Genetics," Glayde Whitney, The Mankind Quarterly, V35:4, Summer 1995, 327-342.
• "Implications of Race and Sex Differences of Contemporary Affirmative Action and the Concept of Discrimination," Michael Levin, The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies," V15:2, Summer 1990, 175-212., V31:3, Mar/Apr 1994, 53-59.
• "Racial Differences: An Overview," Michael Levin, The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies," V16:2, Summer 1991, 195-216.
• "Mental Ability: Critical Thresholds and Social Policy," Arthur R. Jensen, The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies," V17:2, Summer 1992, 171-182.
• "Egalitarian Fiction and Collective Fraud," Linda S. Gottfredson, Society, V31:3, Mar/Apr 1994, 53-59.
• "Intelligence, Income and Ethnic Identity in the United States," Richard Lynn, The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies," V20:3, Fall 1995, 327-342.
• "Spearman's g and the Problem of Educational Equality ," Arthur R. Jensen, The Oxford Review of Education," Vo.. 17, No. 2, 1991.
• "Doing Something About g," Chris Brand, Intelligence," May-June 1996, 311-326.

Sex

On the biology and evolution of sex differences

On the history of nature vs nurture

• In Search of Human Nature: The Decline and Revival of Darwinism in American Social Thought, Carl N. Degler, Oxford University Press, 1991.
• Margaret Mead and Samoa: The Making and Unmaking of an Anthropological Myth, Derek Freeman
• Evolution, Marxian Biology, and the Social Scene, Conway Zirkle
• Freudian Fraud, E. Fuller Torrey

On social issues and sex

• The Bell Curve, Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, 1994.
• Why Men Rule, Steven Goldberg.
• A Question of Intelligence, Daniel Seligman
• Feminism and Freedom, Michael Levin, 1997.
• The Great Sex Divide, Glenn Wilson
• Straight Talk About Mental Tests, Arthur R. Jensen
• The IQ Controversy, Mark Snyderman and Stanley Rothman