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Vertical pleiotropy explains the heritability of social science traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2023

Charley Xia  and
W. David Hill Open the ORCID record for W. David Hill [Opens in a new window]
Charley Xia
Affiliation:
Lothian Birth Cohort studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Charley.Xia@ed.ac.uk; https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr−charley−xia David.Hill@ed.ac.uk; https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/david−hill
W. David Hill
Affiliation:
Lothian Birth Cohort studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Charley.Xia@ed.ac.uk; https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr−charley−xia David.Hill@ed.ac.uk; https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/david−hill
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Abstract

We contend that social science variables are the product of multiple partly heritable traits. Genetic associations with socioeconomic status (SES) may differ across populations, but this is a consequence of the intermediary traits associated with SES differences also varying. Furthermore, genetic data allow social scientists to make causal statements regarding the aetiology and consequences of SES.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 46 , 2023 , e230
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Both authors contributed equally.

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