What is the non-family environmental contribution to religiosity?

• A. 11%
• B. 42%
• C. 50%
• D. 60%

Answer: (B)

Non-family environmental contribution is the portion of differences in religiosity that arise from experiences outside the home—peers, schooling, culture, community norms, media, and random life events that aren’t shared by siblings. In studies that break down why people differ in religiosity, a substantial part of the variation comes from these unique outside-the-family experiences, rather than from genetics or the shared family environment. The typical estimate for this outside-the-family environmental influence sits in the low-to-mid forties percent range, which lines up with the 42% value. That’s why this option is the best match: it reflects outside-the-home influences that shape religiosity independently of family upbringing and shared genetics. The other figures would under- or overstate the outside-the-family impact relative to what twin and family studies generally show.