Is Personality Genetically Linked - Essay Example

? Is personality genetically linked? Personality traits are considered to be influenced withthe genetic intervention. Researchers claim that the genetic heritability play a significant role in determining key personality trait of a person, including social skills, interaction patterns, behaviors and abilities of a person. The idea that the genetic factor influence behavior and personality is very old. Several researches have been conducted to understand the linkage between genetics heritability and personality. In early 1980’s, the evidence for the genetic heritability of the personality was merely connected with the Twin Studies. But, recent studies have found that genetic variance play a significant role in determining personality. Various habits and psychological traits are genetically inherited. According to Bouchard Jr. (2003), the five main determinants of personality are genetically influenced (Bouchard). Studies emphasize that the personality variation, temperament and psychopathology are partitioning of heritable and environmental variance. Early studies merely related personality traits with the behavior patterns of human, but the recent studies have provide a wider platform to analyze the influence of genes on personality (Bouchard). Therefore, it can be determined that the major personality traits are inherited (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). This document shall discuss how personality traits are influence with the genetically. In order to determine the genetic factor influencing personality, we shall discuss Twin Study, Five major Personality determinants and studies to understand the link between genetic inheritance and personality. Several researches claim that the environment play a larger role in developing our personality, we shall further analyze environmental and genetic factor to determine its influence on personalities. Personality is a combination of distinct combination of attitude, behavior and emotional repose patterns of an individual. It also refers to the patterns of feeling, thoughts, motivation, social adjustment and behaviors of a person. Personality of individual varies according to their genetic and environmental conditions. Various researches and studies have been conducted to understand the genetic link between personalities (Matthew, Whiteman and Deary). There have been ongoing debates on the genetic vs. environmental influences on personality. According to some psychologists, environmental condition plays a larger role in the personality, whereas some argue that the personality traits are inherited. Personality Traits Early studies of genetic personalities focus on the correlation of specific genes with the specific personality traits. Studies have found that the genes provide numerous options for various cells to express according to the environment. Many studies have noticed that the different ways our body develops with genes in order to interact and shape our mind and personality. A study of Cattell and Eysenck propose that the genetic have a strong influence on personality. Researchers have found strong evidence linking genetics and the environment to personality from the Twin studies (Jorm, Henderson and Jacomb). The Twin Method provides understanding and comparison of genetic information as a source to determine similarities among identical twins. It has been evident from the study that the about 50 percent of the personality is due to the genetic heritage, whereas 50 percent of the personality is due to environmental conditions (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). The appearance looks, likes, dislikes, height, eating habits of twins are almost similar; this is because of the genetic influences (Strobel, Spinath and Riemann). The study proves that the genetic heritage play a significant role in shaping personality. According to the study of Thomas Bouchard, Big Five Personalities are inherited Extraversions is 54 percent, Agreeableness 42 percent, Conscientiousness 49 percent, Neuroticism 48 percent and Openness 57 percent are heritable (Rhee and Irwin). Furthermore, the Big three Personality traits are about 50 percent heritable, among it positive emotionality is 50 percent, negative emotionality 44 percent and constraints 52 percent heritable (Zucerman and Khulman). Personality traits that are genetically inherited become prominent at the adultery, the statistic and data of cross sectional twin data depicts that about 50-15 percent of the personality traits are heritable. Personality Disorder Personality development is highly influenced on the genetic heritage. According to the National Mental Health Survey, it has been observed as genetic heritage influence personality, certain personality disorder is also reported to be inherited of their family. Borderline Personality Disorder, one of a mental health disorder that generates instable emotional behavior of a person, that may lead to several other mental problems is said to be genetically influences (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a study of University of Missouri reveals that the genetic material found on the chromosomes nine was linked to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), it leads to instability in the moods, emotion, interpersonal relationship, self-imagining and behavior patterns. The study of Loranger, Oldham and Tulis states that the Borderline Personality Disorder runs in families and is genetically inherited (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). About 49 to 60 percent of the variance of the Borderline Personality Disorder is because of the genetic interaction, whereas only 58 to 31 percent of the Borderline Disorder are caused by the other environmental factors (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). Through this study, it is evident that the personality is strongly influenced with the genetic heritage. It has been further proved by the health study of Trull, who conducted a research examining 711 pairs of sibling and 561 parents in order to trace the genetic traits influencing Borderline Disorder, the results of research concludes that the 58 percent features of Borderline Personality Disorder attributes to the genetic influences while 42 percent attributes environmental conditions (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). It further states that the heritability rates are not influenced by the genders, whereas the young adults were prone to Borderline Personality Disorder as compared to the older adults. The linkage of the disorder is associated with the chromosome nine (Distel). The study further estimates that the genetic influence of the Borderline Personality Disorder among sexes are more in the western world. It further states the genetic factor play a major in individual difference of the borderline personality disorder. Behavior Patterns Recent study reveals that certain behavior and addictiveness found among individuals are because of the genetic heritage (Yagmata, Suzuki and Angletitiner). Addiction highly influences personality of an individual affecting their mental health. People born in families, where their parents have been addictive to certain drug or alcohol are prone addiction. According to a research, it has been evident that 50 percent of addiction is because of the genetic predisposition and 50 percent is reported to be because of poor coping skills. The study reveals that about 50 to 60 percent of addiction is due to the genetic factor (Loranger, Oldham and Tulis). Children of the parents that are addictive to certain drugs or alcohol are eight times more likely to develop an addiction. Cross addiction is said to be one of the major factor that contributes to developing an addiction to any drug. Individual belonging to families where their parents were addictive to drug or alcohol have a greater chance of developing addiction (Bouchard). This is because of the reason that the cross addiction works similarly in the children’s brain like their parents. This wired brain stimulates behavior patterns of the individual; this is known as predisposed to addiction. Women belonging to the alcohol addictive families often develop an addiction to tranquilizers, pain relievers or eating disorders (Distel). The addiction run down in the bloodstreams of the family which is further passed to children. Therefore, individual belonging to addictive families, adopt addictive patterns at their adultery (Yagmata, Suzuki and Angletitiner). The studies prove that genetic influence highly influences behavior and personality of a person. Unknowingly the mental condition of the person is influence of the genetic heritage. About 3 percent among men and 2 percent among women are found with the prevalence of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Five Major Personalities Dimension According to the study of Livesley, Jackson and Schroeder the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology is due to genetic heritage. The study reveals that about 18 personality dimension are found to be heritage, and about 40 to 60 percent of the personality traits are said to be recurring across the generation (Cuartas Arias, Acosta and Valencia). The major personality traits like anxiousness, callousness, cognitive, distortion, compulsivity, identity problems, social avoidance, suspiciousness, stimulus seeking, restricted expression, rejection and compositionality (Cuartas Arias, Acosta and Valencia). The research was conducted to determine the people that faced the heritage personality traits. Some of the offspring developed similar disorder like their parents while some of the others are normal. The genetic predisposition is one of the major factors influencing the heritage of certain personality traits among its offspring (Cuartas Arias, Acosta and Valencia). Socialism is considered to be blood for the human, some people often tend to withdraw themselves from the society, and this mental condition is considered to be anti-socialism. Society plays a significant role in the personality development. Studies and research have found that the individual suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) withdraw themselves from the society and are engages in innumerable antisocial or criminal activities (Cuartas Arias, Acosta and Valencia). The violation of rights of a person or adolescences that may continue in the early age or adultery causes the individual to encounter this disorder. In order to examine genetic influence on the antisocial personality, 51 twins and adoption were observed to determine the influences (Cuartas Arias, Acosta and Valencia). The results of Rhee and Waldman (2002) research reflect that approximately 40 percent of the variation in adolescent and adult antisocial behavior is because of the genetic factors. Analyzing the information, it shall be noted that the genetic factor contributes towards the psychological pathologies more than the environmental factors. However, they are to be understood that environmental factors do tend play a significant role in shaping up psychological influences. Analyzing the research studies, it can be determined that the personality of an individual are highly influenced genetically. The above researches and studies prove that the personality development and personality disorder are associated with the genetic heritage. Behavior and interaction patterns of individuals are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. The results of studies reveal that the personality traits and disorders are more associated with the genetic variation. The molecular mechanism of the gene shapes the behavior and personality of an individual. The information and studies prove that psychological traits are moderately heritable, the variance in the heritability and certain influences of the environment is suspected to be the general phenomena to shape personalities. The estimate of the genetic and environmental outcomes of the twin studies generalize that the personality development, psychotic illness, metal ability, interest and social attitudes representative of genetic effects. Works Cited Bouchard, Thomas J. "Genes, Environment and Personality." Science (2003): 2-3. Print. Cuartas Arias, Jorge Mauricio, Carlos A. Palacio Acosta and Jenny Garcia Valencia. "Exploring epistasis in candidate genes for antisocial." 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A cross-cultural twin study from North America, Europe, and Asia." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2006): 987-998. Print. Strobel, Alexander, Frank M Spinath and Rainer Riemann. "Lack of association between polymorphisims of the dopamine D4 recepto gene and personality." Neuropsychobiology (2003): 52-56. Print. Zucerman, Mrvin and Micheal Khulman. "Personality and Risk-Taking Common Bisocial Factors." Journal of Personality (2000): 999-1029. Print. Read More