Parenting as Phenotype: A Behavioral Genetic Approach to Understanding Parenting

SYNOPSIS

This article discusses the behavioral genetic (BG) approach to parenting. Parenting is considered a phenotype that can be influenced by nature and nurture. Genetic contributions to parenting are conceptualized as evidence of genotype–environment correlation (rGE). Early BG studies focused on demonstrating that some parenting dimensions were heritable due to passive and evocative rGE processes. Current studies are investigating moderators and mediators of genetic and environmental contributions to parenting. The paper uses parent and child report data on parental warmth from the Twins, Adoptees, Peers, and Siblings study to illustrate the BG approach. Results show that heritability is significant for parent and child reports, but environmental influences differ by information source. Three questions are addressed concerning the BG approach to parenting: What is the nature of parenting? How does the approach inform parenting practice and interventions? What are the future directions?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH63351). Additional funding was provided by the University of San Francisco Faculty Development Committee and the Dean's Office of the Arts and Sciences to the first author and by California State University, Fullerton Faculty Research Award to the second author. The authors thank the families that participated in the study and the research associates who assisted with data collection.