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Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Plomin, R; Corley, R; Caspi, A; Fulker, DW; DeFries, J
Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology
July 1998

Twin studies consistently indicate moderate genetic influence on individual differences in personality as assessed using self-report questionnaires, with heritability estimates typically about 40%. In this first analysis of self-report personality data from the longitudinal Colorado Adoption Project, little evidence is found for additive genetic influence in parent-offspring and sibling adoption analyses based on a foundation sample of 245 adoptive families and 245 nonadoptive families with adopted and nonadopted children assessed yearly from 9 to 16 years. Although several factors might contribute to the discrepancy between twin and adoption results, we suggest that nonadditive genetic influence, which can be detected by twin studies but not by adoption studies, is a likely culprit. These findings have important implications for attempts to identify specific genes responsible for genetic influence on personality.

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Published In

Journal of personality and social psychology

DOI

EISSN

1939-1315

ISSN

0022-3514

Publication Date

July 1998

Volume

75

Issue

1

Start / End Page

211 / 218

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Prospective Studies
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Individuality
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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MLA
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Plomin, R., Corley, R., Caspi, A., Fulker, D. W., & DeFries, J. (1998). Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(1), 211–218. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.75.1.211
Plomin, R., R. Corley, A. Caspi, D. W. Fulker, and J. DeFries. “Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 75, no. 1 (July 1998): 211–18. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.75.1.211.
Plomin R, Corley R, Caspi A, Fulker DW, DeFries J. Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects? Journal of personality and social psychology. 1998 Jul;75(1):211–8.
Plomin, R., et al. “Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 75, no. 1, July 1998, pp. 211–18. Epmc, doi:10.1037//0022-3514.75.1.211.
Plomin R, Corley R, Caspi A, Fulker DW, DeFries J. Adoption results for self-reported personality: evidence for nonadditive genetic effects? Journal of personality and social psychology. 1998 Jul;75(1):211–218.

Published In

Journal of personality and social psychology

DOI

EISSN

1939-1315

ISSN

0022-3514

Publication Date

July 1998

Volume

75

Issue

1

Start / End Page

211 / 218

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Prospective Studies
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Individuality
  • Humans
  • Female