5000 Norwegian twin pairs study: Sociological theories explaining class outcomes in terms of social origins have little explanatory power, and should be reformulated to consider genetics

Van Hootegem, Arno, Adrian F. Rogne, and Torkild H. Lyngstad. 2023. “Heritability of Class: Implications for Theory and Research on Social Mobility.” SocArXiv. March 29. doi:10.31235/osf.io/mncet

Abstract: Most individual-level outcomes of interest to sociologists are influenced by genetics. Yet, we know very little about how much genetics contribute to the attainment of class positions; which is central to stratification and mobility research. We estimate how much variation in class positions can be attributed to genetic and environmental factors in roughly 5000 Norwegian twin pairs. We show that class attainment is strongly influenced by genetics. Shared environmental factors play a modest role. Our study suggests that sociological theories explaining class outcomes in terms of social origins have little explanatory power, and should be reformulated to consider genetics.