SYNOPSIS

Objective. We investigated associations between adults’ beliefs about the heritability of virtue and endorsements of the efficacy of specific parenting styles. Design. In Studies 1 (N = 405) and 2 (N = 400), beliefs about both the genetic etiology of virtuous characteristics and parenting were assessed in samples of parents and non-parents. In Study 3 (N = 775), participants were induced to view virtue as determined by genes or as determined by social factors. Heritability beliefs and authoritarian parenting endorsements were subsequently measured. Results. Study 1 and Study 2 converged to reveal that tendencies to view characteristics as determined by genes were positively associated with endorsement of authoritarian parenting styles. This association occurred independent of individual differences in essentialism and right-wing authoritarianism. Study 3 revealed that exposure to genetic accounts of virtue increased beliefs that virtue is caused by genes, which in turn was positively associated with endorsements of authoritarian parenting responses to child problem behavior. Exposure to genetic accounts of virtue increased endorsement of authoritarian parenting among parents, but was unrelated to authoritarian parenting among non-parents. Conclusions. These studies suggest that genetic accounts of virtuous characteristics reliably relate to more positive beliefs about harsh and controlling parenting practices, illuminating an unrecognized cognitive factor associated with authoritarian parenting endorsement.

概要

客观的。我们调查了成年人关于美德遗传性的信念与对特定养育方式功效的认可之间的联系。设计。在研究1（ N = 405）和研究2（ N = 400）中，在父母和非父母的样本中评估了关于道德特征和父母养育的遗传病因的看法。在研究3中（ N = 775），诱导参与者观察由基因决定或由社会因素决定的美德。随后对遗传力信念和威权育儿背书进行了衡量。结果。研究1和研究2融合在一起，揭示了由基因决定的观察特征的倾向与对专制父母养育方式的认可呈正相关。这种联系独立于本质主义和右翼专制主义的个体差异而发生。研究3显示，对遗传的美德的解释增加了人们对美德是由基因引起的信念，而这反过来又与对儿童问题行为的威权育儿反应的认可呈正相关。暴露于美德的遗传因素增加了父母对威权父母的认可，但与非父母之间的威权父母无关。结论 这些研究表明，道德特征的遗传学解释可靠地与对苛刻和控制父母的养育行为的更积极的信念有关，这说明了与专制父母养育有关的无法识别的认知因素。