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Cited by 1,085Personality Traits and PsychologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Genes, evolution, and personality

Bouchard, Thomas J., Loehlin, John C.·2001·Behavior Genetics
DOI 10.1023/a:1012294324713
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Abstract

There is abundant evidence, some of it reviewed in this paper, that personality traits are substantially influenced by the genes. Much remains to be understood about how and why this is the case. We argue that placing the behavior genetics of personality in the context of epidemiology, evolutionary psychology, and neighboring psychological domains such as interests and attitudes should help lead to new insights. We suggest that important methodological advances, such as measuring traits from multiple viewpoints, using large samples, and analyzing data by modern multivariate techniques, have already led to major changes in our view of such perennial puzzles as the role of "unshared environment" in personality. In the long run, but not yet, approaches via molecular genetics and brain physiology may also make decisive contributions to understanding the heritability of personality traits. We conclude that the behavior genetics of personality is alive and flourishing but that there remains ample scope for new growth and that much social science research is seriously compromised if it does not incorporate genetic variation in its explanatory models.

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Crossref · 10.1023/a:1012294324713

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275 of 275 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Heritability estimates for Big Five traits are relatively stable across the life cycle at about 40 to 60 percent.

    “Heritability estimates for Big Five traits are relatively stable across the life cycle at about 40 to 60 percent (Bouchard and Loehlin [2001]).”

    From Personality Psychology and Economics (2011) · cites this paper as Bouchard and Loehlin [2001]

  • Twin studies have found no evidence of significant sex differences in the genetic and environmental etiology of psychopathology and normal personality, with the exception of antisocial behavior.

    “Thus far, twin studies have found no evidence of significant sex differences in the genetic and environmental etiology of psychopathology and normal personality (Jang, 2005; Bouchard & Loehlin, 2001) with the exception of antisocial behavior (Tuvblad, 2006; Heiman, et al., 2004; Moffitt, Caspi, Rutter & Silva, 2001).”

    From Genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity: A meta-analysis of twin, family and adoption studies (2011) · cites this paper as Bouchard & Loehlin, 2001

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Authors
Bouchard, T. J., & Loehlin, J. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
ORCID
Bouchard, Thomas J.
Venue
Behavior Genetics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2001-05
Volume
31
Issue
3
Pages
243-273
ISSN
  • 0001-8244 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-3297
DOI
10.1023/a:1012294324713
OpenAlex
W1734767862
Cited by
1,085
References
275
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 48 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 58 · 2012: 74
FWCI
33.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Behavior Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
personality traits, heritability, evolutionary psychology, nonshared environment, genetic variation, molecular genetics, brain physiology, multivariate analysis
MeSH terms
Animals, Biological Evolution, Genetics, Behavioral, Humans, Individuality, Personality, Twin Studies as Topic

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