Models of Behaviour and the Behaviour of Models

Abstract

A model proposed by Bateson suggests that the discrepancy between an adopted child's genotype for I.0. and the adoptive parents' I.Q. should contribute negatively to the child's intellectual development. In support, he cited evidence from an adoption study that the absolute difference between birth mothers' and adoptive mothers' I.Qs is negatively correlated with adopted child's I.Q. Further confirmation of the empirical relationship is reported; however, it is pointed out that such a correlation may artefactually result from a difference in parental means, and that the formal model presents other problems as well.