The polygenic and poly-environmental nature of personality

Abstract

Although personality differences are supposed to arise from both genetic and environmental sources, neither single genes nor specific environmental factors have yet been identified to robustly explain considerable variance. Merging relevant puzzle pieces from the current state of research, this review provides new insights into genetic and environmental personality differences. First, the nature of personality is apparently polygenic and poly-environmental, with various small, rare, and interdependent genetic and environmental factors. Second, self-ratings on broad trait dimensions as the most common operationalization of personality might mask actual genetic and environmental effects. Third, genetic and environmental factors are also interwoven and interact in multiple, complex, and probably very individual ways. Future studies should address these aspects through multi-perspective approaches and multimodal designs.