Pearce, E;
Wlodarski, R;
Machin, A;
Dunbar, RIM;
(2019)
Genetic Influences on Social Relationships: Sex Differences in the Mediating Role of Personality and Social Cognition.
Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology
, 5
(4)
pp. 331-351.
10.1007/s40750-019-00120-5.
Preview |
Text
Pearce2019_Article_GeneticInfluencesOnSocialRelat.pdf - Published Version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Objectives: In humans (and primates more generally), evolutionary fitness arises by two separate routes: conventional reproduction build around dyadic relationships and, reflecting the processes of group augmentation selection, how well individuals are embedded in their community. These processes are facilitated by a suite of genetically inherited neuroendocrines and neurotransmitters. It is not, however, known whether these effects are directly due to genetic factors or are mediated by aspects of personality, or whether there are sex differences in the way this is organised. Methods: We examine whether dispositional factors related to the processing of social information, such as personality (Big 5 and Impulsivity), attachment style (Anxious and Avoidant dimensions) and sociocognitive capacity (emotion recognition) mediate associations between variation in receptor genes for oxytocin, vasopressin, beta-endorphin, dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and two core social relationship indices (the Sociosexual Orientation Index [SOI] and Support Network size). Results: In men, variation in dopamine genes indirectly influences SOI through its effect on Impulsivity. In contrast, in women, variation in endorphin and vasopressin genes independently affect Openness to Experience, which mediates indirect effects of these genes on SOI. Moreover, endorphin gene variation also impacts on Network Size in women (but not men), via Extraversion. Conclusions: These findings reveal that dispositional aspects of personality mediate some genetic effects on behaviour, thereby extending our understanding of how genetic and dispositional variation interact to determine individual differences in human sexual and social cognition and behaviour. The differences between the sexes seem to reflect differences in the two sexes’ social strategies.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Genetic Influences on Social Relationships: Sex Differences in the Mediating Role of Personality and Social Cognition |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s40750-019-00120-5 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40750-019-00120-5 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | Mentalising, Inhibition, Sex differences, Sexual relationships, Social networks, Endorphin, Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Testosterone, Vasopressin |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10088598 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
