— hereditarianism , n.
/heuh red'i tair"ee euhn/ , n.
1. a person who believes that differences between individuals or groups, including moral and intellectual attributes, are predominantly determined by genetic factors (opposed to environmentalist ).
adj.
2. characteristic of or based on such belief: hereditarian theories.
[ 1880-85; HEREDIT(Y) or HEREDIT(ARY) + -ARIAN ]