Our Happiness Relies On Our Genes
March 5, 2008
Happiness in life is as much down to having the right genetic mix as it is to
personal circumstances according to a recent study.
Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh working with researchers at
Queensland Institute for Medical Research in Australia found that happiness is
partly determined by personality traits and that both personality and happiness
are largely hereditary.
Using a framework which psychologists use to rate personalities, called the
Five-Factor Model, the researchers found that people who do not excessively
worry, and who are sociable and conscientious tend to be happier. They suggested
that this personality mix can act as a buffer when bad things happen, according
to the study published inthe March issue of Psychological Science, a
journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
The researchers used personality and happiness data on more than 900 twin pairs.
They identified evidence for common genes which result in certain personality
traits and predispose people to happiness.
The findings suggest that those lucky enough to have the right inherited
personality mix have an 'affective reserve' of happiness which can be called
upon in stressful times or in times of recovery.
The researchers say that although happiness has its roots in our genes, around
50 per cent of the differences between people in their life happiness is still
down to external factors such as relationships, health and careers.
Dr Alexander Weiss, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy,
Psychology and Language Sciences, who led the research said: "Together with
life and liberty, the pursuit of happiness is a core human desire. Although
happiness is subject to a wide range of external influences we have found that
there is a heritable component of happiness which can be entirely explained by
genetic architecture of personality."
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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The paper: "Happiness Is a Personal(ity) Thing: The Genetics of Personality
and Well-Being in a Representative Sample."
Source: Catherine West
Association
for Psychological Science
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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