Aspects of variance and covariance analysis with cultural inheritance

Linear Gaussian models of genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental transmission are studied. The nature of equilibrium assumptions under various modes of assortative mating are discussed with particular emphasis on expected correlations between relatives. Assorting models based only on phenotype, or only on environment, are compared with those in which the mating correlation structure is more complex. Explicit values in terms of transmission parameters and within individual covariances are given for the usual correlations between relatives. The possibility of decomposing these in terms of correlations involving adoptive families is indicated.