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Massive study reveals how much personality comes from DNA
geekspin • • health
Key Points:
- A large-scale study analyzing genetic and personality data from over 1 million people identified more than 1,000 genetic variants linked to major personality traits, with genetics accounting for up to 13% of personality differences.
- The research focused on the "Big Five" personality traits—extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness—and found that personality is influenced by many genetic variants each exerting a very small effect, rather than single "personality genes."
- Genetic profiles associated with certain traits, such as openness or neuroticism, were correlated with real-world behaviors, including living environments like cosmopolitan cities or affluent suburbs, and extraversion was linked to earlier COVID-19 infection during the pandemic.
- Despite genetic influences, personality is shaped by a complex interplay of genes, environment, experiences, culture, and upbringing, meaning genetics do not rigidly determine an individual's personality or destiny.
