1

Chapter 5 Scholarly Article:

Biological Aspects of Personality Journal Article
Daniel Van Auken
Tarleton State University
The Psychology of Personality
Mr. Dennard
2/10/2016

2
This group-authored paper provides valuable scientific perspective on the bio-generic
nature of quality-of-life emotional states of the personality. The authors conclude that genericbased research can significantly extend our understanding of quality of life beyond traditional
conceptualizations of that term (Sprangers, et al, p 1429). Genetic studies have demonstrated
that negative and positive emotions can co-occur during stressful life episodes, and that positive
emotions are a significant human adaptive mechanism, as they may broaden their individuals
attention focus and behavioral repertoire, thereby increasing the persons intellectual, social, and
physical resources (Sprangers, et al, p 1430). In short, positive emotions seem to have a
positive influence on health. However, the mix of positive and negative emotions differs
between people.
Genetics-focused research on twins and multi-generational families clearly indicates a
genetic predisposition for negative emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness
(Sprangers, et al, p 1430). According to the authors, environmental influence on
emotion/personality actually starts in the womb. Thus neuroticism (nervousness, tension, and
anxiety) is pre-born in the sense that negative emotions, including fear, sadness, and anger, are
frequently genetically transferred. Research findings indicate that neuroticism is influenced
more by inheritance than by environmental factors. Genetics also plays a major role in the
negative emotions of pessimism, dysphoria (a state of mental suffering), and moods in general.
Research methodologies have found that the inheritability among young adults for the emotion,
I feel lonely equaled 77%, and 70% for, Nobody loves me. Research has also demonstrated
that 50% of children seem to inherit susceptibility to the emotions of loneliness and lack of love
(Sprangers, et al., p 1431).

3
Science has ascertained that the brains hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the
pathway for depressive emotions. Such emotions are often linked to lack of the cortisol
feedback effect, which is the transferred genetic element. High cortisol brain levels often
decreases brain serotonin, which in return has a causal effect on mood disorders, including panic
attacks and anhedonia: lack of pleasure or happiness (Sprangers, et al, p 1432). Multiple family
genes are linked to depression disorders linked to the HPA region of the brain. Unfortunately,
anti-depression drugs (SSRIs) are not effective for some people who have a (commonly
inherited) monoamine deficiency (Sprangers, et al, p 1432).
A study by Boardman, et al. surveyed 527 twin pairs aged 25-74 for the inheritability of
resilience, a six-item emotional measure. Study results showed inheritability of resilience to
be 52% for men and 38% for women. Other studies of twins focused on inheritability levels for
optimism, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Overall positive emotional states seem to have a
slightly higher degree of inheritability (40-50%) than negative emotional states (30-40%)
(Sprangers, et al, p 1433).
The authors conclude their article with a series of intriguing questions. To what extent
do negative and positive emotional states share the same biological and genetic substrate? How
can we predict which patients will suffer from mood disturbances when taking a specific
chemotherapeutic regimen? Why do pharmacotherapeutic treatments not work in all patients
with the same level of distress? Why are some psychotherapies not effective in comparable
patients with the same problem?
The positive use of genetics in modern psychology has provided a new perspective on
emotional suffering and neurosis. Mental illness can no longer be view as a disease, but

4
rather as a brain/nervous system condition. The technological possibilities of gene therapy now
loom larger than ever in bio-psychology and in medical ethics. Pharmacology, such as SSRIs, is
currently the state of the art in addressing emotional dysfunctionality, but outright gene
interventionism would appear to be the ultimate future playing field.

5
Work Cited
Sprangers, et al. 2010. What Patient Will Feel Down, Which Will Be Happy? The Need to Study
the Genetic Disposition of Emotional States. 19. 1429-1437.
Friedman, H. S., & Schustack, M. W. (2010). Personality : Classic Theories and Modern
Research (5th ed.). Prentice Hall.