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Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kuhnen, CM; Samanez-Larkin, GR; Knutson, B
Published in: PloS one
January 2013

Life financial outcomes carry a significant heritable component, but the mechanisms by which genes influence financial choices remain unclear. Focusing on a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR), we found that individuals possessing the short allele of this gene invested less in equities, were less engaged in actively making investment decisions, and had fewer credit lines. Short allele carriers also showed higher levels of the personality trait neuroticism, despite not differing from others with respect to cognitive skills, education, or wealth. Mediation analysis suggested that the presence of the 5-HTTLPR short allele decreased real life measures of financial risk taking through its influence on neuroticism. These findings show that 5-HTTLPR short allele carriers avoid risky and complex financial choices due to negative emotional reactions, and have implications for understanding and managing individual differences in financial choice.

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Published In

PloS one

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

ISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

January 2013

Volume

8

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e54632

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Self Concept
  • Neuroticism
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Learning
  • Humans
  • Genotype
 

Citation

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Kuhnen, C. M., Samanez-Larkin, G. R., & Knutson, B. (2013). Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices. PloS One, 8(1), e54632. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054632
Kuhnen, Camelia M., Gregory R. Samanez-Larkin, and Brian Knutson. “Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices.PloS One 8, no. 1 (January 2013): e54632. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054632.
Kuhnen CM, Samanez-Larkin GR, Knutson B. Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices. PloS one. 2013 Jan;8(1):e54632.
Kuhnen, Camelia M., et al. “Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices.PloS One, vol. 8, no. 1, Jan. 2013, p. e54632. Epmc, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054632.
Kuhnen CM, Samanez-Larkin GR, Knutson B. Serotonergic genotypes, neuroticism, and financial choices. PloS one. 2013 Jan;8(1):e54632.

Published In

PloS one

DOI

EISSN

1932-6203

ISSN

1932-6203

Publication Date

January 2013

Volume

8

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e54632

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Self Concept
  • Neuroticism
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Learning
  • Humans
  • Genotype