Heritabilities of ego strength (factor C), super ego strength (factor G), and self-sentiment (factor Q3) by multiple abstract variance analysis.

Tested over 3,000 boys (identical and fraternal twins, ordinary sibs, general population) aged 12-18 on Ego Strength, Super Ego Strength, and Self Sentiment. The Multiple Abstract Variance Analysis (MAVA) method was used to obtain estimates of abstract (hereditary, environmental) variances and covariances that contribute to total variation in the three traits. Within-family heritabilities for these traits were about .30, .05, and .65. Between-family heritabilities were .60, .08, and .45. Within-family correlations of genetic and environmental deviations were trivial, unusually so among personality variables, but between-family values showed the usual high negative values, consistent with the law of coercion to the biosocial mean.