The Science of Personality Podcast Genetics & Personality
Mar 29, 2022
Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas and author of 'The Genetic Lottery', sheds light on how genetics shapes personality and social equality. She discusses the interplay between nature and nurture, revealing how genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors. The conversation delves into the significance of self-awareness in personal development and critiques societal implications of genetic understanding. Topics like adolescent sleep needs and their link to personality further highlight the complexities of human behavior.
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From Rat Labs To Human Genetics
- Kathryn Harden began in rodent genetics studying opiate addiction after a summer lab job in college.
- That early work sparked her shift to studying genetics in humans and personality.
Genes Matter, But Not Deterministically
- Personality traits are heritable and genetic differences explain part of why people differ in traits like conscientiousness and extraversion.
- But many genes with tiny effects plus environment interact, so genes matter without being destiny.
Genetic vs Behavioral Levels Of Explanation
- Calling something "genetic" can wrongly imply a single-gene, deterministic cause like Huntington's disease.
- Personality is defined behaviorally and emerges from many genes interacting with environments.
