Do Parental Influences Matter? A Reply to Halverson

ABSTRACT Halverson (1988) raises many objections to the retrospective method, but only some of them are applicable to our study (McCrae & Costa, 1988), further, Halverson fails to distinguish between random error and bias in retrospective data We argue that retrospective accounts can provide one useful source of evidence when the probable effects of biases are taken into account The small associations between recalled parent‐child relations and adult personality that we reported were probably exaggerated rather than masked by retrospective bias, we took this into account in reaching our conclusions Rather than dismiss the method, psychologists should question the entrenched belief that child‐rearing is a major determinant of adult personality Tram up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it—Proverbs 22 6 Copyright © 1988, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Duke Scholars

Author Paul T. Costa Jr. Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care