Are we genetically endowed with a temperament?
Are we genetically endowed with a temperament? With few exceptions (e.g., soothability and rhythmicity, which show little genetic influence), there is no consistent pattern of differential heritability across dimensions. Given that temperament is assumed to be biologically based1, it is not surprising to find that parent-rated temperament is genetically influenced. What personality traits can you inherit from your parents? Among the traits found most strongly determined by heredity were ambition, vulnerability to stress (neuroticism), leadership, risk-seeking, a sense of well-being and, surprisingly, respect for authority. The genetic factor for these traits was found to run somewhere in the region of...