Intelligence and Family Marital Structure Elbedour, S., Bart, W. M., and Hektner, J. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure: The case of adolescents from monogamous and polygamous families among bedouin arabs in israel. Journal of Social Psychology, 143(1), Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology Monogamy versus Polygamy Summary by Lauren Anderson, Whitney Justice, and Roxanne Majich

Video Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

Introduction Studied influence of family marital structure on intelligence levels of adolescents in the Bedouin community in Israel. Large family size = Higher social status. Predicted polygamous structure would lead to lower adolescent intelligence scores compared to monogamous structure. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

“Polygamy is defined as a marital system in which one man is married concurrently to more than one woman” (p. 99) Participants: –210 students (98 female, 112 male). They ranged in grades from seventh through twelfth; the mean age was roughly 15 years. 84 participants came from monogamous families 114 from polygamous families Remaining 12 did not provide such information. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

Results There were no significant differences in scores between participants from polygamous families and those from monogamous families. However, students with two mothers had lower scores than those with three or four mothers. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

Conclusion The adolescents were at an age at which they were greatly influenced by their peers. The closeness of the community provided behavioral and cultural influence. Stigmatism of Monogamy vs. Polygamy Maintained that genetics influenced the adolescents with three or more mother figures compared to those with two. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

Critical Review Main Points Although the research showed that a polygamist family structure itself did not have deleterious effects on adolescent intelligence, the results showed that adolescents in families with three wives or more actually had higher scores than those in families with one to two wives. Emphasis on adolescent development is placed more on community than on parents. Correlation between fathers education and students intelligence score was significant and positive but marginal. Objections Elbedour et al. (2003) claims that their results showed no deleterious effects of polygamy on intelligence levels and adolescence. However, the data is biased because polygamy is not merely accepted but is endorsed in this community. Researchers did not once mention or measure number of kids per family. Hard to find causation for polygamy on intelligence levels because you can’t randomly assign. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology

Test Questions Multiple Choice Questions: 1. In the Bedouin community in Israel, social status is linked to ________? a. Adolescent intelligence b. Age of patriarch c. Family size d. Occupation of patriarch 2. A martial system in which one man is married concurrently to more than one woman is ________ a. Polyandry b. Polygamy c. Polygynandry d. Monogamy 3. Lower intelligence scores of Bedouin adolescents living in households with two mothers can be attributed to _______? a. Greater likelihood of the parents being related b. Lower education of the patriarch’s wives c. Co-wives’ rivalry and jealousy d. Adolescent abuse/neglect True/False 1. In the Bedouin community, youths from polygamous families do not feel stigmatized nor do they perceive their family structure to be a disadvantage. 2. In spite of the Bedouin collectivist culture, Israeli parents still provide the predominant developmental influence on their children. 3. Elbedour et al. (2003) found no overall effect of family marital structure on intelligence of youth. Elbedour et al. (2003). Intelligence and family marital structure. Journal of Social Psychology