Tendency to Cheat Might Be Hereditary

[need2know91]

I read this blog that talks about a study done on birds that shows how a large part of cheating is due to genetics. That's not to say that if you cheat it's not your fault, but it is an interesting perspective on it. I'll post the link for anyone who wants to read more deeply into it. And while we're at it, do you think there's any situation where cheating is ok? And would you date someone knowing they have this genetic predisposition?

 

The link to the article is in my signature (updated it just for this post)

 

Cheers!

[OptomisticGirl]

It's not a genetic predepositin, it's a CHOICE. Children of alcoholics don't automatically become alcoholics because their parents were - they chose to be or not to be.

[DylanNotorious]

And would you date someone knowing they have this genetic predisposition?

 

LoL so now you can walk around and claim you have the above condition to explain your cheating ways????

 

Eh, I don't think so.

[need2know91]

It's not a genetic predepositin, it's a CHOICE. Children of alcoholics don't automatically become alcoholics because their parents were - they chose to be or not to be.

 

You're comparing apples to oranges here. Cheating is a behavior. Alcoholism is an addiction. The point the article makes is that it's been observed that children whose parents were promiscuous as young adults are TWICE as likely to cheat in their lifetime. The only thing the article adds is that it was always thought that kids learn from these parents that it's not a big deal, so they do it. However, now it's been discovered that in monogamous animals, even when other "bird parents" raise the young, those who were conceived by 'cheating' parents are still TWICE more likely to cheat than normal birds.

[OptomisticGirl]

You're comparing apples to oranges here. Cheating is a behavior. Alcoholism is an addiction. The point the article makes is that it's been observed that children whose parents were promiscuous as young adults are TWICE as likely to cheat in their lifetime. The only thing the article adds is that it was always thought that kids learn from these parents that it's not a big deal, so they do it. However, now it's been discovered that in monogamous animals, even when other "bird parents" raise the young, those who were conceived by 'cheating' parents are still TWICE more likely to cheat than normal birds.

 

My father was a cheater and I'm sorry, but I'm not a cheater. And you proved my point - cheating is a BEHAVIOR, not a genetic trait such as blue eyes and blonde hair. Saying it's a predepositiin is just another way for a cheater to try to justify their cheating and not be held accountable for their choice.

[Captain Obvious]

Of course some people are more likely to cheat than others, just as some people are more likely to kill than others but it is still a conscious decision until you are declared insane. Thus cheating is never ok as a conscious choice just as murdering people will get you jail time.

[Firiel]

Many things do have a genetic component. With the new field of epigenetics (which has started being explored recently-- basically, things you do can CHANGE both your own genetic code, and by extension, the one you pass on to children), the idea of "passing on a predisposition" to anything is seeming to be more and more likely.

 

Anyway, I don't think it's an unreasonable idea. Alcoholism has proven to have genetic components, and as a result, many children of alcoholics choose to avoid alcohol altogether. Of course, plenty are able to partake in moderation. Depression and anxiety have genetic components that can be passed on. It doesn't mean that a child of a depressed person is doomed to a life of depression (one can, after all, always choose to take the steps necessary to overcome such troubles). I don't think that saying, "Hey, there's a genetic component to the desire to stray" is giving cheaters an excuse.

 

I'd still argue that it's more learned behavior than genetics, though, even if genetics does play a part in it.

[xiRoCb294]

My father was also a cheater and that's actually taught me that I never want to put my partner in so much pain. I agree with the posters who said that the whole genetic predisposition thing is just a way for cheaters to justify their behaviour.

[LCA1986]

You're comparing apples to oranges here. Cheating is a behavior. Alcoholism is an addiction. The point the article makes is that it's been observed that children whose parents were promiscuous as young adults are TWICE as likely to cheat in their lifetime. The only thing the article adds is that it was always thought that kids learn from these parents that it's not a big deal, so they do it. However, now it's been discovered that in monogamous animals, even when other "bird parents" raise the young, those who were conceived by 'cheating' parents are still TWICE more likely to cheat than normal birds.

 

I think it has to do with the environment where the children were brought up more than in genetics. I really don’t think it has anything to do with genes. Kids learn from what they see, and if they see their parents accepting behavior towards cheating then maybe that could impact their view on cheating. But again, my father constantly cheated on my mom the whole time they were together, and I didn’t turn out to be a cheater.

[FathomFear]

My father was a cheater and I'm sorry, but I'm not a cheater. And you proved my point - cheating is a BEHAVIOR, not a genetic trait such as blue eyes and blonde hair. Saying it's a predepositiin is just another way for a cheater to try to justify their cheating and not be held accountable for their choice.

 

I think you're misunderstanding the OP. Saying that there is a genetic component to being more predisposed to cheat does not mean that such a person is condemned to cheat. It just means that such a person might have a harder time overcoming the urge to cheat than someone who doesn't have the genetic disposition to be driven to cheat.

 

Similarly, having sex with a man as a man is a "behavior". However, the desire to have sex with a man as a man does not appear to be. There's a distinction between drive/propensity and the behavior.

[He2Him]

Genetics my butt. I know for a fact there are families where each of their members but one are fat and the one is slim. Genetics no? She doesn't eat junk food, she exercises, she lives completely different. You know, fat people saying they're fat because they dad is fat too, that it's genetics. LOL. No, it's not genetics, it's because they eat same retarded unhealthy stuff they parents did.

 

Now see my point, genetics give you some potential. Fat people have potential to gain weigh, and they most of the time do, but they do it effin' WRONG WAY. And same here, cheating, there is some sort of a potential in everyone, and if they cheat, they took their potential given to them via genetics WRONG way.

 

It's mainly about education. Look, if you got loser parents with a kid, what do you think they are capable of showing to the kid (in terms of living a great life) ?? NOTHING. They are losers and all they show to their kid is how to be a loser and if that kid doesn't get lucky and meet someone who'll inspire him/her to be the ''world's greatest'' then he's ''doomed'' to be LOSER TOO.

[OptomisticGirl]

I think you're misunderstanding the OP. Saying that there is a genetic component to being more predisposed to cheat does not mean that such a person is condemned to cheat. It just means that such a person might have a harder time overcoming the urge to cheat than someone who doesn't have the genetic disposition to be driven to cheat.

 

Similarly, having sex with a man as a man is a "behavior". However, the desire to have sex with a man as a man does not appear to be. There's a distinction between drive/propensity and the behavior.

 

No I completely understood what he said - and I still disagree. Cheating is a decision, it's a serious of events that a cheater can stop at any time. We all have the ability to cheat, it's about choosing not to.

[He2Him]

No I completely understood what he said - and I still disagree. Cheating is a decision, it's a serious of events that a cheater can stop at any time. We all have the ability to cheat, it's about choosing not to.

 

True, because nobody is born as a cheater, alcoholic, etc...

[Firiel]

Nobody is born obese or with cancer (okay, that last one might happen, but rarely) either, but that doesn't mean that genetic predispositions to those things don't exist. Of course we all have the ability to cheat or not cheat, but that decision might be harder for some people than others.

[-Sanguine-]

If I grew up in a home where my parents cheated on each other, I could very well think that cheating is okay and therefore I could be more likely to cheat. I believe that cheating is purely environmental. I am no scientist but I have no idea how it could be possibly be transferred through genes. To be honest, I think that is absurd. I guess the thought just makes me mad because I don't want people to think cheating is okay just because "I have a genetic predisposition".

 

Saying that cheating is genetic is just giving those who cheat an excuse to do it. "Oh, sorry I cheated on you. But I was born with the cheating gene. Can't be helped."

 

Give me a break.

[Day_Walker]

I think that the article could have some merit, it would just depend on how scientific the results where. Genetic predisposition doesnt mean that a person has to succome to it, it just means they have a higher likelihood than in the normal population.

[-Sanguine-]

Cheating is a behaviour, though. Behaviours are learned, are they not?

[Firiel]

I do think it would be more environmental than genetic, but I think knowing about a genetic predisposition could be a valuable tool. Perhaps there is a man who has cheated on a girlfriend or two and reads about this disposition. It might kick him in the butt, causing him to think, "Gee, it wasn't that I was dissatisfied. There is some urge within me that is causing me to be tempted. I want a loving relationship, and being tempted doesn't mean that relationship is bad or that I need to go outside it. It's just my inner self asking for something it can't have."

 

Knowledge is power. KNOWING that you have a weakness is vital in learning to overcome it. Maybe people will use this idea as an excuse, but if they do, they were already going to make excuses (we don't have enough sex, I need variety, etc.). I've often found that discovering why I work the way I do, why I desire what I desire and why I fear what I fear, help me overcome my problems and become a better person.

[lila...]

Even if it's true that some people could have a genetic predisposition to cheat, we're all rational human beings capable of making choices.

[FathomFear]

No I completely understood what he said - and I still disagree. Cheating is a decision, it's a serious of events that a cheater can stop at any time. We all have the ability to cheat, it's about choosing not to.

 

My point is that you're setting up a false dichotomy. I also completely agree that cheating is a decision. The point is that some people may be more disposed to cheating than others. ie, some people may have much stronger urges to cheat simply based on genetics. Clearly it's still a choice--the issue is that the choice may be harder for some than others, simply due to genes.

 

The same could be said for something like obesity. Caloric intake is completely a choice. However, genes very well may dictate our drive to eat/overeat--which means some people will have a much more difficult struggle to remain slim than others.

 

In other words, it's not about the choice. It's about how the drive or propensity to be driven in a certain direction could be linked to genetics.

[OptomisticGirl]

Even if it was a predepositiin, it still comes down ot choices. My family has a tendency to be on the large scale, so I have a predepositiin for that. However, I make the choice to be a emotional eaters and be part of that predepositiin - I very well could kick myself in the butt and eat right and even with that predepositiin be skinny.

 

It's all about how we define cheating and pre depositions. to me, alcoholism is not a DNA pre deposition, it's a behavioral pre deposition. You grow up with it yes, you have the tendency to follow in that same pattern but you still have a choice not to. Could cheating be a behavioral pre deposition? Yes, if your around cheating as a child you may view it as not wrong, but it's still a choice to do it or not. To say it's a genetic pre deposition is a stretch for me.

 

My point is that you're setting up a false dichotomy. I also completely agree that cheating is a decision. The point is that some people may be more disposed to cheating than others. ie, some people may have much stronger urges to cheat simply based on genetics. Clearly it's still a choice--the issue is that the choice may be harder for some than others, simply due to genes.

 

The same could be said for something like obesity. Caloric intake is completely a choice. However, genes very well may dictate our drive to eat/overeat--which means some people will have a much more difficult struggle to remain slim than others.

 

In other words, it's not about the choice. It's about how the drive or propensity to be driven in a certain direction could be linked to genetics.

[Seraphim]

Actually addictions DO have a genetic basis. They have discovered some genes involved in addiction. The person just sometimes does not want to be involved in the addiction,that does not mean they are not pre disposed. For instance both my families have lots of addicted people on both sides to several things. I am a person that is easily addicted to anything, I just chose not to do it but the urges are still there.

[JonasWaingaro]

If I grew up in a home where my parents cheated on each other, I could very well think that cheating is okay and therefore I could be more likely to cheat. I believe that cheating is purely environmental. I am no scientist but I have no idea how it could be possibly be transferred through genes. To be honest, I think that is absurd. I guess the thought just makes me mad because I don't want people to think cheating is okay just because "I have a genetic predisposition".

 

Saying that cheating is genetic is just giving those who cheat an excuse to do it. "Oh, sorry I cheated on you. But I was born with the cheating gene. Can't be helped."

 

Give me a break.

 

I agree with Sanguine. Social conditioning in a family might pass down through generations but it's not genetic. Not cheating. Seems like a cop-out excuse to me.

[Seraphim]

Well nothing bad is OK even if you have genetic pre disposition, you can decide not to drink, not to take pills, not to do whatever. The genetics however are still there to be addicted. Social conditioning also is hard to overcome. That is not to say that you can't. The truth is many people do not overcome what they saw as kids and turn out to be like their parents and some manage to change and become something else. The difference is having the knowledge to know that you do not HAVE to do it your parent's way. Dare to improve.

[OptomisticGirl]

I just don't see cheating as a addiction - it's a behavior.