Of the 59 studies referenced in the APA brief, more than three-quarters were based on small, non-representative, non-random samples that did not include any minority individuals or families; nearly half lacked a heterosexual comparison group; and few examined outcomes that extend beyond childhood such as intergenerational poverty, educational attainment, and criminality, which are a key focus of studies on children of divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation. In other words, “A lack of high quality data leaves the most significant questions unaddressed and unanswered,” concludes Marks.
Further reading shows that Marks did discover significant disadvantages for children raised by gay couples, and confirms the advantages to children of growing up in a traditional, stable, nuclear family:
Further reading shows that Marks did discover significant disadvantages for children raised by gay couples, and confirms the advantages to children of growing up in a traditional, stable, nuclear family:
According to his findings, children of mothers who have had same-sex relationships were significantly different as young adults on 25 of the 40 (63%) outcome measures, compared with those who spent their entire childhood with both their married, biological parents. For example, they reported significantly lower levels of income, more receipt of public welfare, lower levels of employment, poorer mental and physical health, poorer relationship quality with current partner, and higher levels of smoking and criminality.
“This study, based on a rare large probability sample, reveals far greater diversity in the experience of lesbian motherhood (and to a lesser extent, gay fatherhood) than has been previously acknowledged or understood,” explains Regnerus. “The most significant story in this study is arguably that children appear most apt to succeed well as adults when they spend their entire childhood with their married mother and father, and especially when the parents remain married to the present day.”
“This study, based on a rare large probability sample, reveals far greater diversity in the experience of lesbian motherhood (and to a lesser extent, gay fatherhood) than has been previously acknowledged or understood,” explains Regnerus. “The most significant story in this study is arguably that children appear most apt to succeed well as adults when they spend their entire childhood with their married mother and father, and especially when the parents remain married to the present day.”
Control thyself: “This is your brain on no self control” announced a headline on Science Daily. Brain scans seem to show “self-control is a finite commodity that is depleted by use. Once the pool has dried up, we’re less likely to keep our cool the next time we’re faced with a situation that requires self-control.” That’s a new theory by William Hedgcock (U of Iowa) that contradicts previous views that self-control is like muscle that gets stronger with use.
Control thyself: “This is your brain on no self control” announced a headline on Science Daily. Brain scans seem to show “self-control is a finite commodity that is depleted by use. Once the pool has dried up, we’re less likely to keep our cool the next time we’re faced with a situation that requires self-control.” That’s a new theory by William Hedgcock (U of Iowa) that contradicts previous views that self-control is like muscle that gets stronger with use.
It’s not clear, though, that his MRI scans of selected subjects given self-control games to play can be generalized to the population at large. It might have taxed subjects’ self-control to continue taking part in the experiment with all the noise of the scanner going on. Besides, it would seem presumptuous to associate MRI maps of a person’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with a moral quality like self-control; which causes which?
It’s not clear, though, that his MRI scans of selected subjects given self-control games to play can be generalized to the population at large. It might have taxed subjects’ self-control to continue taking part in the experiment with all the noise of the scanner going on. Besides, it would seem presumptuous to associate MRI maps of a person’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with a moral quality like self-control; which causes which?
Confusing cause and effect: A story on Science Daily purports to show that religions “use” prohibitions against extramarital sex to guarantee paternity. Buried within the article, though is an admission that a new NSF-funded study by Beverly Strassman (U of Michigan) “contradicts the prevailing view that traditional populations have high rates of cuckoldry.” Her team generalized taboos about adultery found among the Dogon people of West Africa to all religions that preach against it, but did not explain why “biological pressures” in some unguided evolutionary process would care about paternity.
Confusing cause and effect: A story on Science Daily purports to show that religions “use” prohibitions against extramarital sex to guarantee paternity. Buried within the article, though is an admission that a new NSF-funded study by Beverly Strassman (U of Michigan) “contradicts the prevailing view that traditional populations have high rates of cuckoldry.” Her team generalized taboos about adultery found among the Dogon people of West Africa to all religions that preach against it, but did not explain why “biological pressures” in some unguided evolutionary process would care about paternity.
