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A person's sensitivity and compassion are determined by genes
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A new study by scientists from the University of California (USA) suggests that a person can recognize in a stranger a genetic predisposition to qualities such as kindness, compassion and trustworthiness in just 20 seconds.
"Interestingly, complete strangers were able to recognize who was trustworthy, kind and compassionate in just 20 seconds, just by looking and listening to the person sitting in the chair," said Alexander Kogan, lead author of the study.
The study involved two dozen couples who provided DNA samples in advance. The researchers then videotaped the couples as they described difficult experiences in their lives.
A separate group of observers who did not know the couples were shown 20-second clips and asked to rate and identify which of the people filmed was the most trustworthy, kind, and compassionate based solely on their facial expressions and body movements.
People who scored highest on empathy were found to have a particular variant of the oxytocin receptor gene known as the GG genotype.
"We found that people who had two copies of the 'G allele' showed more trustworthy behavior, which included more head nodding, more eye contact, more smiling, more open body posture. And it was these behaviors that signaled the stranger's kindness," Kogan said.
The study builds on previous work at the University of California, Berkeley, on the genetic predisposition of humans to empathy (sympathy for another person's current emotional state) and was based on an analysis of three combinations of oxytocin receptor gene variations: AA, AG and GG.
It was previously established that the presence of two copies of the "G allele" to a certain extent determines the level of responsiveness and sensitivity of a person. Unlike people with groups of AA and AG alleles, who are less capable of empathy. Even earlier, scientists proved that the "Sex Hormone" prevents the development of cancer.
The hormone oxytocin is known as the "hug" or "love" hormone and is released into the blood and brain, in addition to its basic functions, it promotes social interaction and romantic love.
Kogan noted that people with a combination of AA or AG does not mean that a person will necessarily be callous.
"A person's kindness and sociability are a combination of numerous genetic and non-genetic factors. There is no single gene that is 100% responsible for these qualities. There are many factors that pull a person in one direction or another, and the oxytocin receptor gene is one of them," Kogan said.
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