Many psychological and sociological studies emphasize the importance of the environment of upbringing in the development of one's sociality. On the other hand, a number of behavioral genetic studies so far have indicated that factors which affect the formation of one's sociality are not derived from family environment but from genetics and nonshared (unique) environment. This discrepancy could be resolved if gene-environment interactions and gene-environment correlations are taken into consideration. Our twin data disclosed that many aspects of family influence were not explained by main effects expressed by linear models, but by interaction models between genetics and environment. Moreover, in many cases, the behavior of parents to-wards children was due to results of response to children's genetics, which indicate the correlation between genetic factors and family environment factors. These findings imply that universal ways of upbringing which affect all families do not exist. The significance of studies with a behavioral genetic perspective becomes clear when describing the reality of modern families objectively and precisely. Education taking factors of individual differences into account is required.

特集教育研究の現在-教育の統合的理解を目指して-
教育心理学
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