Table of contents:
- Is behavior genetically influenced?
- Research on the influence of genetics on human behavior
- The environment is no less important in determining behavior
Every human being has different genes and DNA sequences, so it's rare for anyone to have a similar face - except for identical twins. Each person has physical differences, even in identical twins there are still physical differences. Physical appearance that can be seen, such as hair color and style, tall or short, face shape, nose, mouth, and even eyebrows differ from person to person. This difference is formed due to differences in genes and DNA that each person has.
Then, what about the nature and behavior of a person? Is it also made up of genes and DNA? Where did it come from and do genetics influence a person's behavior? Just like physical differences, everyone also has different characteristics, habits and behaviors. However, the question that remains a mystery today is what shapes a person's behavior and habits? Does only the environment or genetics also contribute to this?
Is behavior genetically influenced?
The theory has been that each DNA contained in human genes will affect the cell's work. This chemical process in DNA will produce different orders in each cell. When these cells carry out the orders that have been made, this then indirectly affects a person's actions and behavior.
However, this theory is still being debated because the behavior that appears cannot be separated from the environment. From this theory emerges the statement that two individuals who may have a genetic similarity - such as identical twins who have about 99% of the same genes - have different behaviors because they live in different environments and two individuals who are not genetically similar, live in the environment. the same thing every day also has a different behavior.
Research on the influence of genetics on human behavior
There have been many studies conducted to answer this. But still there is no definite answer until now. This happens because it is very difficult to know how much genes and the environment influence a person to behave, make decisions, or do his habits. These studies have even been carried out on various objects, such as identical and fratenal twins, even in groups of people who have mental syndromes.
Another research has also been conducted involving people with Williams syndrome. This syndrome is quite rare and causes sufferers to experience various deficiencies, namely learning disorders, having a unique personality, and low intellectual abilities. Not only problems with psychological abilities, Williams syndrome causes sufferers to experience heart and blood vessel disease. Then the researchers in the study measured their respondents' brain abilities by performing various tests, such as tests of language skills and memory abilities.
Researchers try to understand and find the relationship between genes and behavior by looking at the behavior of people with Williams syndrome. Then, they managed to find differences in the work system of the brain in Williams sufferers compared with normal people. This suggests that genetics can indeed affect a person's behavior and social life. But a surprising thing emerged from the results of this study, namely that it is known that the brains of Williams syndrome sufferers return to normal work after they grow up. And researchers also state that there is an environmental influence on people with Williams syndrome.
The environment is no less important in determining behavior
Other studies have even suggested that a person's antisocial behavior is already in that person's genes, meaning that antisocial is inborn. Research conducted on 1300 adolescents aged 17 to 18 years in Sweden found that children who tend to be anti-social, passive, and withdrawn from the environment have more monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), which is a type of intermediate substance that exists. in the nervous system which functions to deliver signals between nerve cells.
From this study also found that adolescents who have high MAOA have experienced violence in their childhood. So it can be concluded that genetics does affect a person's behavior, but this is inseparable from the environment and the experiences he has experienced.