| From: Leon | 14/07/2000
20:12:00 |
| Subject: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99077 |
| Does anyone know whether any
genes have been linked to specific personality traits? Although much of the gene research seems to be designed to find links with physical or biological characteristics, I was wondering whether any links exist to the 'softer' psychological side eg. intelligence, personality, etc. | |
| From: spud(adonai) ® | 14/07/2000
20:27:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99086 |
| I think it is a bit of genes and
environment. | |
| From: mark h | 14/07/2000
21:43:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99105 |
| Very interesting
idea. Richard Dawkins Selfish Gene alludes to something similar to what you suggest. I would think (IMHO) that if physical traits are selected for then it would not be unreasonable to suggest that psychological traits could also be. of course environmental factors would still play a part. cheers | |
| From: Andrew ® | 14/07/2000
21:48:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99109 |
| I'm no geneticist, but here's my
thoughts anyway - I'd say that probably your genes and things determine the basic shape of your personality, sort of like the foundations of a house. Then as you grow up and mature, your environment shapes the rest, and finishes off the house. Sound right? | |
| From: Drues | 14/07/2000
23:38:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99160 |
| Andrew's comment is pretty
accurate. I can say with the statisticly correct confidence of 95% that genetics and personality are intimatly related. A long-term study on twins, both isolated and living together, have remarkable personality traits, even though their enviroments have been so different. Obviously, traumatic experiences could distort the personality to some extent, but it appears that genetics provides a "scaffold" of a personality to be built upon. | |
| From: spOOk | 14/07/2000
23:46:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99173 |
| We breed dogs for their good
temperament. So obviously it's genetically based. But any badly treated dog is likely to turn nasty, no matter how "passive" are his genes. | |
| From: Joseph | 15/07/2000
10:39:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99400 |
| What's a personality? Its a bit
nebulous. You are the product of your genes in interaction with your environment. There is no more precise definition available to describe what you are. You can't attribute it 90-10 or 70-30. You can only say it is 50-50. It is called the nature-nurture debate. Assuming your personality is what you are, then there is your answer. If you tend to think you are a product of your genes more than your environment, consider all the various influences in your life (events, people, places, experiences) and how they have shaped your personality. That is the influence of your environment. Alternatively, imagine what it would have been like growing up with the same set of genes in ancient Egypt. Think of being a slave, from birth to death lugging rocks to build a pyramid for some pharoah on a throne. That's it, from dawn to dusk. What kind of personality would you have? Probably somewhat different from the one you have now. | |
| From: Carmel ® | 16/07/2000
15:16:00 |
| Subject: re: Genes & Personality |
post id:
99815 |
| AFAIK, research into genes for
various personality traits is really diffcult. Partly because it's so
subjective. However, I vaguely recall hearing about genes in mice that
govern the 'mothering instinct', nurturing. And alao a seriously laughed
at and scorned peice of work from London that tried to show that petty
crime was the result of a certain gene.... In my opinion, it's one of those things that the result of both genes and environment. Bring on the identical twins spearated at birth, please! | |