Age changes in the causes of individual differences in conservatism

Behav Genet. 1997 Mar;27(2):121-4. doi: 10.1023/a:1025633307992.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / psychology
  • Attitude
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality / genetics*
  • Social Conformity*
  • Social Environment
  • Social Values
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology