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Social and Genetic Influences on Adolescent Religious Attitudes and Practices

Authors :
Eaves, Lindon J.
Hatemi, Peter K.
Prom-Womley, Elizabeth C.
Murrelle, Lenn
Source :
Social Forces. Jun 2008 86(4):1621-1646.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

The authors explore the contributions of social and genetic influences to religious attitudes and practices in a population-based sample of 11-18 year olds and their mothers who responded to a Religious Attitudes and Practices Inventory and Religious Rearing Practices Inventory respectively. Contrary to genetic studies examining adult religious behavior, genetic influences were small, accounting for only 10 percent of the variance. Rather, the effects of the social environment were much larger, greater than 50 percent, and a majority of offspring similarity was explained by familial rearing. In light of the divergent finding between adults and adolescents, one supporting a socialization model and the other a genetic model, the importance of integrating genetic and social science methodology for complex social behaviors is discussed. (Contains 8 tables and 1 note.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0037-7732
Volume :
86
Issue :
4
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
Social Forces
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ800935
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Evaluative