Are you a pessimist? Blame your DNA! Video reveals how genes affect whether or not you're a glass-half-empty personality
- Video by Toronto-based AsapScience explains how genetics affect outlook
- People with two long alleles on specific genes controlling for the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, were more likely to focus on positive images
- But those with a short allele on the gene, were found to be more negative
You might be an optimist who always sees a glass is half full, or a pessimist who expects the worst from life.
Whatever the case, your outlook may be out of your control.
A video from AsapScience explains how genetics may be to blame for a pessimistic view of the world and how this can affect your life expectancy.
A video from AsapScience explains how genetics be to blame for a pessimistic view of the world and how this can affect your life expectancy. A stock image showing two girls seeing a glass of milk differently is pictured
The Toronto-based YouTube channel explains that in one study, people with two long alleles – one form of a gene – on specific genes controlling for the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin, were more likely to focus on positive images, such as someone enjoying an ice cream.
In contrast, those with a short allele on the same gene, were found to be more likely to focus on negative images, such as someone being robbed.
The video explains that a person’s outlook may also be affected by the oxytocin receptor gene. Oxytocin is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’.
The video explains people with two long alleles on specific genes controlling for serotonin, are more likely to focus on positive images, such as someone enjoying an ice cream (a stock image is shown)
People with two copies of guanine, which is one of the four nucleobases of DNA, are more likely to be optimisitic and have higher self-esteem than those with another type of nucleobase called adenine, who are more likely to be pessimistic.
'It seems that people may be genetically susceptible to pessimism,’ the narrator says.
The video explains that optimistic people don’t just enjoy a sunnier disposition, but are less likely to be hospitalised after coronary artery bypass surgery as well as tending to do better at school and be wealthier than their pessimistic peers.
However, pessimists who have a more realistic view of the world and are more cautious when planning for the future may even live longer.
Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown who made the video, cite a study spanning 20 years to explain the phenomenon.
It found pessimists use a cautious approach to their finances and health, avoiding risky behaviour such as smoking and drinking, ultimately enabling them to live longer.
The video claims 80 per cent of people are programmed to be optimists and this majority tends to predict their future will be better than their present, while grossly underestimating the probability of negative outcomes ahead.
The narrator says: ‘Most of us also imagine we are more intelligent, sociable and honest than other people.’
The video explains that a person’s outlook may also be affected by the oxytocin receptor gene too. Oxytocin (illustrated in this molecular model showing it and its carrier protein) is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’
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