We humans prefer to imagine that we’re in complete control of our decisions and behavior. But just beneath the surface, forces beyond our conscious control influence our pondering and behavior: our genes.
Since the Nineteen FiftiesScientists have Influences of genes on human health. This has led to Doctors, researchers And political decision makers advocate the usage of Precision medicine to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, leading to faster Improving patient well-being.
However, the influence of genes on psychology has been ignored.
My research deals with how genes influence human psychology and behavior. Here are some concrete possibilities Psychologists can use genetic conflict theory to raised understand human behavior – and possibly advance the treatment of psychological problems.
What do genes need to do with it?
Genetic conflict theory proposes that while our genes mix with one another to make us who we’re, they still contain markers that indicate whether or not they got here from mom or dad. These markers cause genes to either cooperate or fight with one another as we grow and develop. Research on genetic conflict focuses totally on pregnancy since it is considered one of the few moments in human development when the influence of various sets of genes could be clearly observed in a person.
Normally, maternal and paternal genes have different ideal strategies for growth and development. While genes from mom and pa ultimately find ways to cooperate with one another that end in normal growth and development, these genes profit by bringing the fetus' development a bit more according to what is perfect for the parent they got here from. Genes from the mother try to maintain the mother healthy and leave her enough resources for an additional pregnancy, while genes from the daddy profit by allowing the fetus to hog all the mother's resources.
However, if the genes fail to search out a compromise, this may result in undesirable consequences, equivalent to physical and mental deficits in the infant and even miscarriage.
Although genetic conflicts are a traditional phenomenon, their influence has been largely ignored in psychology. One reason for that is that researchers assume that genetic cooperation is mandatory for the health and well-being of the person. Another reason is that almost all human characteristics controlled by many genes. The height is decided, for instance, by a mixture of 10,000 genetic variantsand skin color is decided by greater than 150 genes.
The complex nature of psychology and behavior makes it difficult to find out the unique influence of a single gene, let alone which parent it comes from. Take depression, for instance. The likelihood of developing depression is influenced not only by 200 different genesit’s also influenced by environmental aspects equivalent to Childhood abuse and stressful life events. Researchers have also studied similar complex interactions for Stress and anxiety disorders.
Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome
When researchers study genetic conflicts, they sometimes concentrate on its connection to diseasesand thus inadvertently documents the influence of genetic conflicts on psychology.
Specifically, researchers have studied individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome to see how extreme cases of genetic conflict—equivalent to when the influence of 1 set of parental genes is fully expressed while the opposite set is totally suppressed—are related to behavioral changes.
Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome are rare genetic diseases that affect about 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 And 1 of 12,000 to twenty,000 People all around the world. There is currently no long-term treatment for either disease.
These syndromes develop in patients Missing copy of a gene on chromosome 15 which is required for balanced growth and development. Someone who inherits only the version of the gene from their father will develop Angelman syndrome, while someone who has only the version of the gene from their mother will develop Prader-Willi syndrome.
Yang et al. 2021, Gene/MDPI, CC BY-SA
Physical characteristics of Angelman syndrome These include significant developmental delays, mental disabilities, movement difficulties, eating disorders and excessive smiling. Physical characteristics of Prader-Willi syndrome Symptoms include reduced muscle tone, dietary problems, hormone deficiencies, short stature, and extreme eating habits in childhood.
These syndromes represent considered one of the few cases by which the influence of a single missing gene could be clearly observed. While each Angelman And Prader-Willi The syndromes are related to language, cognitive, eating and sleeping problems, in addition to significant differences in psychology and behavior.
For example, children with Angelman syndrome smile laugh and usually want participate in social interactionsThese behaviors are related to a increased ability to acquire resources and investments from the people around them.
Children with Prader-Willi syndrome, nevertheless, experience Tantrums, Fear and have Difficulties in social situationsThese behaviors are related to increased hardships for moms in adolescence and will delay the time when their mother has one other child. This would subsequently improve the kid’s access to resources equivalent to food and parental attention.
Genetic conflict in psychology and behavior
Angelman syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome underscore the importance of studying the influence of genetic conflicts on psychology and behavior. Researchers have documented differences in temperament, sociability, mental health. and fastening with these disorders.
The differences in psychological processes between these syndromes are much like the hypothesized effects of genetic conflicts. Genetic conflicts affect attachment by Responsiveness and sensitivity of the parent-child relationship by differences in behavior and resource needs. This relationship begins to form because the child still within the womb and helps with calibration, equivalent to They react reactively to different social situationsWhile this calibration of responses begins on a purely biological level within the womb, it ends in unique patterns of Social behavior that affect every thing from the way in which we to cope with stress To our personalities.
Because most scientists don’t consider the influence of genetic conflict on human behavior, much of this research continues to be theoretical in nature. Researchers have had to search out similarities across disciplines to see how the biological technique of genetic conflict affects psychological processes. The research on Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes is only one example of how integrating a genetic conflict framework into psychological research can provide researchers with a technique to examine how our biology makes us uniquely human.
image credit : theconversation.com