Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences pp 1–8Cite as

Heritability of Personality Traits

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:

  • 225 Accesses

Synonyms

Behavior genetics; Twin research; Twin studies

Definition

Behavior genetic studies strive to differentiate between the variability that is attributable to genes and the variability that is attributable to the environment. This is typically done through a systematic evaluation of the correlation between twins (both monozygotic and dizygotic), non-twin siblings, or between parents and offspring. The term is typically reserved for research done on personality variables and ability scores.

Introduction

Behavior genetics once stood in the foreground of a significant amount of controversy in psychology, particularly with regard to the debate as to the relative importance of “nature” and “nurture.” Years of behavior genetic research have, however, suggested that most personality characteristics are at least partially genetically determined and that most personality traits are between 40 % and 60 % heritable (Johnson et al. 2008). Modern behavior genetic research has begun to involve...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • Cederbaum, S. (2002). Phenylketonuria: An update. Current Opinions in Pediatrics, 14(6), 702–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, N. B., Krebs, J. R., & Wester, S. A. (2012). An introduction to behavioral ecology (4th ed.). West Sussex: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, W. T., & Flynn, J. R. (2001). Heritability estimates versus large environmental effects: the IQ paradox resolved. Psychological Review, 108(2), 346–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, D. S., & MacKay, T. F. C. (1996). Introduction to quantitative genetics (4th ed.). Harlow: Longmans Green. Essex: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A. M., Vernon, P. A., & Feiler, A. (2008). Behavioral genetic studies of personality: An introduction, and review of the results of 50+ years of research. In G. J. Boyle, G. Matthews, & D. H. Saklofske (Eds.), The handbook of personality theory and testing (pp. 145–173). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendel, G. J. (1866). Versuche ueber pflanzenhybriden. Verhandlungen Des Naturforschunden Vereines in Bruenn, 4(1), 3–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muola, J. M. (2010). A study of the relationship between academic achievement motivation and home environment among standard eight pupils. Educational Research and Reviews, 5(4), 213–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neale, M. C., & Maes, H. M. (1998). Methodology for genetic studies of twins and families. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plomin, R., DeFries, J. C., McClearn, G. E., & McGuffin, P. (2001). Behavioral Genetics (4th edition). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stigler, S. M. (1989). Francis Galton’s account of the invention of correlation. Stastistical Science, 4(2), 73–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welk, G., Wood, K., & Morss, G. (2003). Parental influences on physical activity in children. An exploration of potential mechanisms. Pediatric Exercise Science, 15, 19–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Studies, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    Andrew M. Johnson

Authors
  1. Andrew M. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew M. Johnson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Western University, Canada http://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8

    Julie Schermer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Cite this entry

Johnson, A.M. (2016). Heritability of Personality Traits. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_759-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_759-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation