Irving Gottesman

The Brilliant Scientist

While he did not write about it much, especially in his later years, Irv was a student of evolution and understood its implications for explicating the roots of behavior. He was thoroughly familiar with both animal and plant breeding research and conversant with recent work in quantitative population genetics. I use the roots metaphor in the same way Irv spoke about how genes influence behavior. He saw genes as root causes, as primary initiators, giving rise to his multifactorial-polygenic model of transmission. How else could one explain a vast array of kinship data? Roots, however, are only a beginning. To paraphrase Irv, “how do you get from roots to fruits?” In addition, genes do not explain everything; monozygotic twins are not 100% concordant. The answer is “via development.” Thus, the vulnerability/diathesis stress model. Molecular genetic research continues to strongly support this multipronged approach to the understanding of mental disorders (Bouchard, Johnson, & Gottesman, submitted).

The Gifted Writer and Consummate Scholar

Anyone who has read his work cannot fail to appreciate Irv’s gift with words. For younger readers interested in understanding mental disorders, perhaps not familiar with it and who might neglect it for more recent writings, I strongly recommend Schizophrenia Genesis: The Origins of Madness (Gottesman, 1991). It is, in my opinion, one of the finest treatments of how important it is not only to study human behavior scientifically but also to understand the issues in historical context as well as the context of real human lives. The science is impeccable and continues to be highly relevant, and the voices of the anguished afflicted, integrated into the book, make a compelling case for the need and importance of rigorous research on mental illness.

The Master Teacher and Mentor of Students and Colleagues

The following is a slightly edited section from a eulogy I gave at a celebration of Irv’s life:

Almost from the first day I arrived at Minnesota, in 1969, as a fresh young and naïve Assistant Professor, Irv saw all my vulnerabilities. He immediately took me under his wing. Starting from Day 1, I regularly got reprints, old papers, and new papers in my mailbox, often with a note saying “this might go well in the appropriate individual differences lecture.” He was amazingly “right on” 99% of the time. He also regularly caught me in the hallways of Elliott Hall or in my office for a discussion of this or that. When I launched the study of twins reared apart, he was right there with a ton of useful advice. He also personally interviewed many of the twin pairs. Much of this continued even after he left Minnesota. Reprints via snail mail were slowly replaced by PDF files sent by e-mail. On his retirement to Minnesota, the mini discussions in the corridor and the PDFs via e-mail continued. Even after I retired, the barrage continued. I could go on and on, but you get the gist. Let me note that my appreciation of Irv’s influence goes way back. Over 20 years ago, a researcher asked me for a short list of mentors, colleagues, teachers, or others that are or were instrumental in “your own creative work or thinking.” Irv Gottesman was one of three people on that that list. No one had more direct influence on my intellectual and professional development over the course of my career than Irving Gottesman.

It turns out that I was special but not unique. I heard numerous variations on the same story from both his students and colleagues. As it was, I was not the only one under his wing. Indeed, he had very large wings. Irv was a valued friend, colleague, and mentor. He had a mischievous smile when he was conveying his scholarly advice regarding a misperception, inappropriate or stupid comment, poorly thought out idea, or downright error. I felt the radiance of that smile the entire time I spent writing this tribute!