Contents
Genetic bases of character — do they exist?
Yes, there are. Reasons:
- the similarity of characters, traced in the pedigree lines by many authors;
- the connection of character, especially in its pathological forms, with the bodily constitution (Kretschmer, Sheldon, and others);
- early appearance and stability of the properties of anomalous characters during life;
- results of studies of normal characters using the twin method.
One such study compared some of the personality traits of identical twins who were separated in early childhood and raised apart, and siblings raised together. The results were as follows (see Table 3, cited in [89]).
Table 3. Correlation coefficients of character traits within pairs of twins and siblings
As you can see, siblings showed a surprisingly low correlation, identical twins showed a fairly high one. This strong difference in results can be explained by the common genetic basis of character in identical twins.
More data:
“Internality and the ability for self-development are partly determined by heredity — by 59%, and are practically not influenced by the environment. Following the norms is largely due to the family environment.
LOEHLIN JC, GOUGH HC Genetic and environmental variation on the California psychol. inventory / J.Person. evaluation. 1990, no. 3-4, p. 463-468. (Genetic and environmental influences on personality traits, determined by the CPJ vector scales). /Abstract. J. 95. Psychology. 1991, no. 11
“An indicator of the heritability of the quality “operational independence”, in the form of the desire to dress oneself, lace up shoes, etc. in children — 58%.
LYTTON H. Parent-Child Interaction/ N.J, L., 1980.
“… seven traits are found in both humans and monkeys: activity level, fear level, impulsiveness, sociability, caring, aggressiveness and dominance (AH Buss, 1988 — BUSS AH Personality: Evolutionary heritage and human distinctiveness. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1988). Some of these traits are associated with prosocial behavior, others with how we try to resolve conflicts with others or struggle for power.
Pervin L., John O. Psychology of personality. M.: Aspect Press 2001, p.298-299
“Significant individual differences exist because they have played a role in the process of natural selection (DM Buss, 1991,1995 — BUSS DM Evolutionary personality psychology/ Annual Review of Psychology, 1991, 42, p. 459-492). … Presumably, these individual differences are associated with such basic evolutionary tasks as survival and reproduction of the genus. Traits such as extraversion and emotional stability (as opposed to neuroticism) may be particularly important for mate selection (Kenrick et al., 1990), and conscientiousness and agreeableness for group survival. … An attempt was made to root the theory of personality in the biological principles that unite man with other biological species »
Pervin L., John O. Psychology of personality. M.: Aspect Press 2001, p.299.
“There is no reason to believe that for some reason we do not fall under the influence of the organizing forces of evolutionary natural selection. Theories of personality that are inconsistent with the theory of evolution have little chance of being true.” (
350 pairs of identical twins — Tellegen questionnaire for studying 11 character traits. Conclusion: heredity has a stronger influence on the formation of a child’s character than education. The desire for leadership (social activity) — 61% determined by genes, traditionalism-radicalism — 60%, vulnerability to stress, introspection and alienation (responsibility) — all 55%, optimism and cheerfulness — 54%, a tendency to avoid trouble, risk — by 51%, aggressiveness — by 48%, the desire for success — by 46%, self-control (everything according to plan) — 43%, the need for communication — 33%.
BUSHARD T.E. et al. (BOUCHARD TE et al) Sources of Psychological Differences: Minnesota Study of Separated Twins / Abstract. J. 95. Psychology. 1991, no. 10, p. 2
Extraversion (sociability) and neuroticism (negative emotionality) are 50% determined by the genotype — Eysenck G., Plomin R., Bass. Examination of more than 25 pairs of twins of different ages. EAO Bass and Plomin’s theory is confirmed that emotionality, activity level and sociability are the most inherited traits.
Is there a biologization of personality here?
No.
When it comes to the biological or genetic foundations of personality, these «bases» are discussed in relation to character, not personality, and more precisely, in relation to temperament. Let us refer to the most «ardent constitutionalist» E. Kretschmer, who writes that it is temperaments that make up that part of the mental, which «… is in correlation with the structure of the body» [45, p. 246]. The character, according to him, also includes «…exogenous factors, especially the results of upbringing and the environment, alien to the concept of the constitution» [45, p. 245]. From the above words it can be seen that the point of view of E. Kretschmer practically “does not differ in any way from the understanding of temperament as a genotype and character as a phenotype proposed by I. P. Pavlov.
If we recognize that the biological, and even genotypic properties of an organism determine temperament, and the latter constitutes the “basis” of character, then it is natural to consider certain properties of an organism as an organic basis of character. At the same time, bearing in mind mediation by the conditions of life, it would be more correct to speak of them as biological or genotypic prerequisites of character.
It should be noted that the authors of typologies pay great attention to highlighting the basic «dimensions» of character, or temperament properties that distinguish each type. (Examples are the emotional warmth of cycloids and the coldness of schizoids, the increased sensitivity and exhaustion of asthenics, the strength of drives and the viscosity of affects of epileptoids, etc.). In carrying out such work, psychologists provide an invaluable service to physiologists by suggesting in which structures and functions one should look for the biological correlates of the foundations of character.
Is the genetic predetermination of personality traits and its fate affirmed?
No.
Recognition of the genetic prerequisites of character in no way means the approval of its genetic predetermination. According to the provisions of modern genetics, only the “reaction rate” is inherited, that is, a set of different ways of responding to environmental influences. The way in which genetic prerequisites take shape in real psychological traits or properties depends on the interactions of these prerequisites and environmental conditions. Therefore, when discussing the problem of character formation, neither genetic nor environmental factors can be discounted.
Indeed, the study of extreme character anomalies suggests that in some cases a relatively greater contribution to the formation of anomalies is made by the genotypic factor, in other cases — by the environmental factor.
Thus, in the psychiatric literature, “true”, or “nuclear”, psychopathy is described, in the origin of which unfavorable heredity plays a decisive role. In these cases, it is possible to establish the presence of the same type of character in parents, siblings and relatives along the lateral lines. There is also an early manifestation of character anomalies and their relative invariability throughout life. Finally, it has been established, and it is important to emphasize that psychopathy can occur even under the most favorable conditions of education [105].
At the same time, cases of the exact opposite meaning are known: exceptionally difficult social conditions with a completely normal initial background can lead to the formation of psychopathy. The same role can be played by biologically harmful environmental influences (brain injuries, infections), especially in the prenatal, natal and early postnatal periods [40; 105].
Finally, the middle position is occupied by cases (they are the majority), in which, according to A. E. Lichko (Lichko A. E. Psychopathy and accentuation of character. — L., 1983, p. 19), «the seeds of bad environmental influences fell on endogenously prepared soil suitable for them”, that is, with a genetic predisposition, the child finds himself in conditions of unfavorable upbringing, which leads to the sharpening of certain character traits. So, the analysis of the problem of «biological foundations of character» leads us to the following conclusions.
First, the determinants of character traits should be sought both in the characteristics of the genotypic background and in the characteristics of environmental influences. Secondly, the degree of relative participation of genotypic and environmental factors in the formation of character can be very different. Thirdly, genotypic and environmental influences on character can, so to speak, be summed up algebraically: with an unfavorable combination of both factors, the development of character can give strong degrees of deviation up to pathological forms; with a favorable combination, even a strong genotypic predisposition to anomaly may not be realized, or at least not lead to pathological character deviations.
All these conclusions are very important for psychology. In particular, they force us to put forward as a very urgent task the early diagnosis of character deviations in children and the study of special conditions of education that take into account and, possibly, correct these deviations.