Can we inherit personality from ancesters? Let’s find out
“Like father, like son”. “You are just like your mom”. How many times have we heard such opinions? Uncountable times, we presume. No wonder why because from a scientific point of view we inherit 23 chromosomes from each of our parents. These small data carriers hidden in our DNA are responsible for genes. They can decide our height, eye color, hair color, and body type. Yet, can we be thankful (or blame) our ancestors for our personality?
How Can Genes and DNA Affect Your Personality?
The majority of personality heritability research is done on twins. If identical twins have a higher prevalence of certain psychological characteristics, we can link this to heredity, but Personality, Ancestors and DNA, how can they link together? Can we inherit personality from ancesters? In 2013, scientists from the University of Exeter and the University of Hamburg followed a similar study methodology.
Their findings show that we inherit personality characteristics from our parents in at least 40% of cases. This ancestry is obvious every day https://www.ancestry.com/dna/lp/how-does-ancestrydna-work. The quiet daughter of a bashful father or the outgoing son of an enthusiastic mother both have explanations in genetics.
Psychologist Robert Plomin came to slightly different conclusions. He conducted a multi-year study on 245 biological mothers who put their children up for adoption shortly after birth. He studied the adoptive parents of these babies, and the children, of course. All parents filled in a questionnaire examining their personality just once. Scientists obtained the same data from children (age 9 to 16) annually. Their emotionality, activity, sociability, and impulsiveness were assessed. Psychologists consider them some of the common hereditary personality traits.
This article may interest you: What You Inherit From Your Ancestors and How It Can Help Finding Yourself?
This research suggests that the correlation between the personality phenomena of parents and their children, and between siblings exists. However, it is small (max. 25%). The result of Plomin’s studies differs from those studies of twins, where heritability is higher. Is it possible that parents treat twins differently than their only children? That might be the case.
Multi-Generational Inheritance – Are You More Like Your Grandpa?
Researchers estimate that even 60-70% of personality traits depend on our genes. These come not only from our parents but also from their parents, i.e. our grandparents. The same goes for personality. Thus, we inherit traits not only from our mothers and fathers but also from our grandparents. We are also influenced by the emotions of our great-grandparents, especially those related to traumatic experiences.
These observations come from the research of prof. Armena Goenijana from the University of California, Los Angeles. The scientist studied survivors of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. What turned out that many years after the catastrophe? That anxiety and PTSD were common not only with the witnesses of the event but also with their children. Even though they were born a few years after the earthquake. Moreover, they could pass on similar traits to their offspring.
Of course, we can inherit excellent attributes from our grandparents, such as the capacity to deal with adversity, tenacity, and entrepreneurship. Another element that contributes to our resemblance is the fact that grandparents frequently have an active role in our development.
If you want to understand better how your ancestors can influence your personality and behavior, there is a way. Modern genealogy studies are becoming more advanced and you can look for your heritage online. By trying to understand the past you will surely prepare for the future. Plus, you will explain why you are the way you are.