Why Do Feelings Come in Different Sizes?
This is the text version of the interactive 3D documentary. 한국어
Contents · Chapter 2 Why the difference?
What “40% genetic” means
Not 40% of your feeling, but 40% of the differences between people
40% genetic, but 40% of what?
Sixteen people go through the same thing, and every wave has a different size. When studies of twins and families are put together, about 40% of the personality differences between people are linked to genes. That does not mean 40% of your feeling comes from genes. It means genes can explain that share of why people differ from each other.
Why?There is no single gene that sets the size of your feelings. A huge number of genes each have a tiny effect. The other 60% comes from how you were raised, what you have been through, and your life right now. Genes are a starting point, not a fixed fate.
Go furtherIn 2015, researchers in Croatia combined studies of personality and genes covering more than 100,000 people, and got about 40%. Twin studies alone give about 47%, and family and adoption studies about 22%, so the number depends on the method. The sixteen people are made up.
View in 3D →Read more: Vukasović & Bratko (2015), Psychological Bulletin — heritability of personality