Age changes in the causes of individual differences in conservatism.
Age-related changes are analyzed in the correlation of 3416 monozygotic and 3780 dizygotic U.S. twin pairs aged between 9 and 75+ years for conservatism scores derived from a 28-item social attitude inventory. The effects of the shared environment are overwhelming in twins aged 20 years or younger. In older twins, genetic effects appear to play a larger role. A more dynamic conception of the interaction between genes and environment in the development of complex human differences is needed.
Eaves
L
L
Department of Human Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23284, USA.
Martin
N
N
Heath
A
A
Schieken
R
R
Meyer
J
J
Silberg
J
J
Neale
M
M
Corey
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D012925:Social Conformity; D012931:Social Environment; D012945:Social Values; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology