Purcell and Koenen (2005) examined the validity of a variety of methods used to test for environmental mediation via methodological arguments and a simulation study. Their simulation results suggested that the method used in the test of the association between corporal punishment and antisocial behavior (Jaffee et al. 2004a)—the bivariate behavior genetic method—is a valid test of genetic and environmental mediation. Therefore the authors’ conclusion that the relationship is largely genetically mediated is appropriate.
