Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assortative marriage for cognitive abilities

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-three spouse pairs gathered as part of a family study of the genetics of special abilities were examined on a battery of ability tests. Four principal components were interpreted after rotation: Spatial, Verbal, Perceptual Speed, and Memory. In addition, the first factor from a common factor analysis (unrotated) was taken as an estimate of g. Assortative marriage was measured by the spouse correlations on the test and factor scores. Three multiple regression models were designed to determine whether phenotypic convergence during marriage occurs and whether resemblance between spouses in cognitive ability is related to fertility. The following independent variables were partialed out in the models: (1) sex and age; (2) sex, age, and length of marriage; and (3) sex, age, and number of children. Model 1 (age and sex) accounted for part of the correlation between spouses on the spatial tests, the verbal tests and the spatial and general factors. The perceptual speed and memory tests and factors were largely unaffected by partialing out the independent variables. No evidence of phenotypic convergence over years of marriage or of a relationship between fertility and resemblance in abilities was found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • DeFries, J. C., Vandenberg, S. G., McClearn, G. E., Kuse, A. R., Wilson, J. R., Ashton, G. C., and Johnson, R. C. (1974). Near Identity of cognitive structure in two ethnic groups.Science 183:338–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • French, J. W., Ekstrom, R. B., and Price, L. A. (1963).A Manual for a Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrison, R. J., Anderson, A. E., and Reed, S. C. (1968). Assortative marriage.Eugen. Quart. 15:113–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guttman, L. (1945). A basis for analyzing test-retest reliability.Psychometrika 10:255–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman, H. H. (1967).Modern Factor Analysis, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R. (1977). Genetic and behavioral effect of nonrandoming mating. In Noble, C. E., and Osborne, R. T. (eds.),Human Variation: Biogenetics of Age, Race and Sex, in press.

  • Johnson, R. C., DeFries, J. C., Wilson, J. P., McClearn, G. E., Vandenberg, S. G., Ashton, G. C., Mi, M. P., and Rashad, M. N. (1976). Assortative marriage for specific cognitive abilities in two ethnic groups.Hum. Biol. 48:343–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, F. M., and Novick, R. M. (1968).Statistical Theories of Mental Test Scores, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., p. 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external locus of control of reinforcement.Psychol. Monog. 80: Whole No. 609.

  • Schaefer, E. S. (1958). Development of parental attitude research instrument.Child Dev. 29:339–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer, E. S. (1965). Children's reports on parental behavior: An inventory.Child Dev. 36:413–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schludermann, E., and Schludermann, S. (1970). Replicability of factors in Children's Reports of Parent Behavior (CRPBI).J. Psychol. 76:239–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schludermann, E., and Schludermann, S. (1970a). Conceptualization of maternal behavior.J. Psychol. 75:205–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schludermann, S., and Schludermann, E. (1970b). Conceptual factors of parental attitudes of fathers.J. Psychol. 75:193:204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, L. R. (1951). A method for synthesis of factor analysis studies.Personnel Research Section Report No. 964. Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandenberg, S. G. (1972). Assortative mating, or who marries whom?Behav. Genet. 2:127–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren, B. L. (1966). A multiple variable approach to the assortative mating phenomenon.Eugen. Quart. 13:285–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. R., DeFries, J. C., McClearn, G. E., Vandenberg, S. G., Johnson, R. C., and Rashad, M. N. (1975). Cognitive abilities: Use of family data as a control to assess sex and age differences in two ethnic groups.Int. J. Aging Hum. Dev. 6:215–229.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

    Alan B. Zonderman, Steven G. Vandenberg, Karen P. Spuhler & Pamela R. Fain

Authors
  1. Alan B. Zonderman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven G. Vandenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karen P. Spuhler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pamela R. Fain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported in part by Research Grant HD06648 to S. G. V. and Training Grant MH11167 to G. E. McClearn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zonderman, A.B., Vandenberg, S.G., Spuhler, K.P. et al. Assortative marriage for cognitive abilities. Behav Genet 7, 261–271 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066279

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066279

Key Words

Search

Navigation