Chapter 1. A Happiness Trait?

Short Description

Researcher, Dean Hamer, has discovered a gene that affects mood. The gene operates like Prozac.

Long Description

Researcher, Dean Hamer, has discovered a gene that affects mood. The gene operates like Prozac. People with a long version of the gene seem to have been on Prozac all their lives, while those with the short version of the same gene seem never to have had it.

Hamer has researched the impact this gene has on personality. In studying hundreds of individuals, he found that the gene was strongly related to neuroticism. Those with the long version of the gene were low in neuroticism; they felt good about themselves and optimistic about the future. Those with the short version of the gene were more depressed, worried, and pessimistic about the future. The presence or absence of a gene seems to profoundly affect personality.

Hamer concludes that we are still a long way from genetically designing happy children. Probably, many genes contribute to happiness.

Questions