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Smart and Dangerous: How Cognitive Skills Drive the Intergenerational Transmission of Retaliation

Author

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  • Henry, Ruby

    (University of Toulouse I)

Abstract

A need exists to understand how people develop an aggressive, retaliatory conflict resolution policy vs. a more passive reconciliation stance. I contribute a choice-theoretic model that explains how cognitive skills drive the transmission of conflict resolution policies. A child’s resolution policy depends on parental effort and the influence of the outside environment. The model has the implication that high-cognitive parents socialize children to their conflict resolution culture more successfully than parents with low cognitive skills. Indeed, I test the model using the cognitive skills and conflict resolution skills of parents and children from the UK National Childhood Development Survey. I find that the parent’s effort is reinforced by the prevalence of their conflict resolution values in society. The data confirm that children of retaliating high-cognitive parents are more likely to be socialized to that resolution culture than children of low-cognitive retaliating parents when retaliation is more prominent in society.

Suggested Citation

  • Henry, Ruby, 2010. "Smart and Dangerous: How Cognitive Skills Drive the Intergenerational Transmission of Retaliation," IZA Discussion Papers 5413, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp5413
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Decker, Scott H. & Curry, G. David, 2002. "Gangs, gang homicides, and gang loyalty:: Organized crimes or disorganized criminals," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 343-352.
    2. Alberto Bisin & Thierry Verdier, 2000. ""Beyond the Melting Pot": Cultural Transmission, Marriage, and the Evolution of Ethnic and Religious Traits," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(3), pages 955-988.
    3. Bisin, Alberto & Verdier, Thierry, 2001. "The Economics of Cultural Transmission and the Dynamics of Preferences," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 298-319, April.
    4. de Bartolome, Charles A M, 1990. "Equilibrium and Inefficiency in a Community Model with Peer Group Effects," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(1), pages 110-133, February.
    5. Yona Rubinstein & James J. Heckman, 2001. "The Importance of Noncognitive Skills: Lessons from the GED Testing Program," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(2), pages 145-149, May.
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    Blog mentions

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    1. The smart children of vengeance
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2011-03-08 21:22:00

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    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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