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Familial studies of intelligence: a review
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 29, 1981
Summary
Familial resemblance in intelligence shows a polygenic inheritance pattern. However, significant variation exists within family groups, unaffected by sex or intelligence test type.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychometrics
- Human Intelligence
Background:
- Understanding the genetic and environmental influences on intelligence is crucial.
- Familial resemblance studies provide insights into heritability.
- Previous research indicates a significant genetic component to intelligence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize findings on familial resemblance in measured intelligence.
- To assess the overall pattern of correlations across studies.
- To investigate sources of heterogeneity in these correlations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of 111 studies on familial resemblance in intelligence.
- Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients.
- Examination of moderating factors like sex and test type.
Main Results:
- Average correlations suggest a polygenic mode of inheritance for intelligence.
- Significant heterogeneity in correlations was observed within familial groupings.
- This heterogeneity was not explained by the sex of the pair or the intelligence test used.
Conclusions:
- Intelligence heritability is supported by familial resemblance data.
- The complex genetic architecture of intelligence contributes to observed variations.
- Further research is needed to explore unexplained heterogeneity in intelligence heritability.