Nov 21 2009
Fun Science Fact: A Genetic Predisposition to Empathize
“Thou shalt be sensitive to other people’s feelings” is not one of the Ten Commandments. And it is probably a good thing. For some people would have difficulty living up it, through no fault of their own. It seems that more caring individuals may have acquired their noble trait not via prayer, but the genetic lottery-drawing that followed their mother and father having sex.
Here’s the scoop:
Researchers have discovered a genetic variation that may contribute to how empathetic a human is, and how that person reacts to stress. In the first study of its kind, a variation in the hormone/neurotransmitter oxytocin’s receptor was linked to a person’s ability to infer the mental state of others. [source]
Of course, in many cases, genes don’t completely determine our physical and psychological traits. The way I see it, they can set the range of possibilities for individual development. Nurture, or environmental input (disease, diet, learning experiences, etc.) will then determine where in a their own range of possibilities a person develops to. Still, there are limits, and each individual likely has a different range of what is possible for them.
If you can feel another person’s pain and respond humanely, don’t chalk it all up to spirituality. Thank the genes that control your oxytocin receptors.
