A possible genetic component linked to Niceness

Niceness is referred to how people treat others and how they react to the world around them. Recently psychologists at the University of Buffalo and the University of California claim to have found genes that influence hormones which contribute to niceness or generosity. This is not to say they have found a niceness gene, but they have found a link between certain hormones and the way people act. These hormones known as oxytocin and vasopressin are said to show greater socialibilty and a greater maternal behavior. The gene found is said to influence on if people view the world as bad or good.

A survey was done in order to further research this finding, where they looked at results of peoples attitude towards civic duty, other people, the world, and charitable activities. They then took saliva from 711 for DNA analysis. What this showed was people who find the world threatening were less likely to help people, unless they had the gene that is associated with niceness.

Niceness, Generosity May Have a Genetic Component

US Researchers have suggested that there is a possibility that genes can influence some of the hormones which contribute to a person's niceness and generosity. Former studies have already show a link between the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin to a person's display of niceness or "prosocial behavior". Oxytocin is the hormone which promotes maternal behavior and when the subjects in that study were exposed to the hormone they also showed greater sociability. Psychologists from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Buffalo say that niceness could also be tied into genes to the extent that the genes' influence could help determine the person's perception of the world as a good place with good people or a bad place with bad people. However, they have not found the specific gene that controls niceness, but one of the genes that makes a contribution since several genes control the function of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. The most recent study also took a sample of saliva from 711 of those surveyed to find the variants of the oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes they encompassed. The results correlated to the fact that people who found the world threatening were not likely to help others expect for those who has versions of receptor genes who could be associated with niceness.

Niceness in your genes

Science Daily reports of Michel Poulin who is the principle author of the study, "The Neurogenics of Niceness". In this study, Poulin identified two harmones, oxytocin and vasopressin, that are linked to how nice somone is. These hormones have been linked to how people treat one another and can actually make someone nicer.

Poulin conducted a study to see of the pressence of these hormone receptors prevoke our association with pro-social behavior such as giving to charity, or giving blood. The hormones work by binding to our cells from receptors of different forms and several genes are responsible for the control of the function of these receptors.

The study Poulin established had people take online surveys about their views on different topics such as civic duty, paying taxes, giving to charity, and if people are more good than bad. 711 of those surveyed supplied a DNA sample to show what type of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors they had. The study found that those who had a more threatening view of the world were less likely to help others unless they had the "nicer" version of these gene receptors. Poulin does not claim to have found the niceness gene, but he does believe he has found a contributor. He then adds, " What I find so interesting is the fact that it only makes a contribution in the presence of certain feelings people have about the world around them."