Ordinary personality dimensions have substantial genetic sources, not just environment

Evidence

More astounding yet, the Minnesota team uncovered evidence of strong genetic causes for many personality dimensions (Tellegen et al., 1988). Again, precedents existed. Evidence had been accumulating for some time that schizophrenia, manic-depression, and other serious mental illnesses had genetic precursors that put their unlucky inheritors at risk. But the Minnesota data indicated that “ordinary” personality variables, which psychologists had long assumed were almost entirely controlled by environment, appeared to have genetic sources as well, sources that made the environment definitely “second string” by comparison. What sort of ordinary personality dimensions? They cited achievement orientation, social closeness, and alienation, and tradition- alism, and religiousness . — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 889

Categorization

• QUESTION: The genetic heritability of traditionalism/obedience to authority is a striking claim worth chasing — what mechanisms could link genotype to deference?
• XREF: Connects to twin-study debates in behavioral genetics and to the Nature vs. Nurture controversy the reader has encountered in psychology reading.