ABSTRACT
The evidence is compelling that there are strong genetic influences on the dimension of hyperactivity/inattention and on individual variation in liability to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Misleading “hype” by scientists and journalists often involves reference to “genes for ADHD”, or for schizophrenia, or for bipolar disorder. The implication is one of a deterministic action by which genes directly cause the psychological condition. Active gene-environment correlations (rGE) refer to the mechanisms by which our genetically influenced behaviour leads people to select (or avoid) certain sorts of environments. The examples of possibilities given earlier with respect to novelty or sensation seeking illustrate this effect. Evocative rGE cover the mechanisms by which our own genetically influenced behaviour elicits particular responses from the people with whom people interact. It is very apparent that evidence of high heritability, or even of specific susceptibility genes, in and of itself provides no information on the nature of risk processes.
