The impact of genetics on personality development and life path has been thoroughly examined, with researchers reporting that over 1,200 different genetic variants are associated with five major personality traits.
Genetics and Personality Traits Connection
This study shows that these personality genetics are linked to dozens of different pathways throughout an individual's life, including health, education, career, and parenting. Ted Schwaba, a senior researcher and assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University, stated at a press conference: "It seems that personality is related almost everywhere you look. We hope this study encourages many other scientists to incorporate personality traits into their academic fields."
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Data Analysis and Results
For this study, researchers examined data from 46 different participant groups in genetic research, with sizes ranging from 611,000 to 1.1 million individuals. Participants also completed a questionnaire measuring the five major personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Researchers stated that these traits represent relatively stable differences in how individuals think, feel, and act.
The research team linked the differences in individuals' personality traits to specific changes in their genetic structure. Schwaba said: "There is no single personality gene. Personality traits are associated with many genetic variants, but even the largest effects of individual genetic variants are still very small."
Results showed that specific variants can be used to predict personality. For example, researchers noted that genes associated with extraversion in a young adult in the Netherlands also predict extraversion in an older retiree in the United States. Additionally, they found that genetic variants predicting personality also partially predict mental or physical health, longevity, education, career path, and an individual's decision to become a parent.
For instance, genes associated with conscientiousness were also linked to being more active during the day, while night owls were more likely to have variants associated with openness and extraversion. However, the research team also noted that the environment still plays an important role in personality.
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