Scientists Discover Gene For Ruthlessness

Pioneer Woman writes "Researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem have found a link between a gene called AVPR1a and ruthless behavior. These findings come from an economic exercise called the 'Dictator Game' that allows players to behave selflessly, or like national dictators and 'little Hitlers' found in workplaces the world over. The team decided to look at AVPR1a because it is known to produce receptors in the brain that detect vasopressin, a hormone involved in 'prosocial' behavior. Researchers tested DNA samples from more than 200 student volunteers, before asking the students to play the game that measured their altruism. There was no connection between the participants' gender and their behavior but there was a link to the length of the AVPR1a gene."

Comments

Games != real life

[EmbeddedJanitor]

As all the gamers tell us, games != real life. People who kill many characters on FPS are not going to kill real people.

So why should ruthless behaviour in some game be linked to ruthlessness in life?

another personality trait?

[cynicsreport]

Can we put these headlines to rest, please?
I mean the "Scientist discovers gene for [insert personality trait here]".
Some of these get pretty inane; ruthlessness, for example, is defined by behavior, and is subjective!
And don't forget: these studies are nearly meaningless, even if they are talking about something that can be defined rationally:

1. The study evaluates 'ruthlessness' based on subjects playing a game. (Not by observing reality)
2. The study involves 200 student volunteers. Not exactly a representative sample!
3. The article generalizes these dubious results to make inferences about the genetics of dictators.
4. The study has not yet been repeated to duplicate these results (A necessary step to 'prove' something)

Re:oh the irony

[Anonymous Coward]

oh the irony of a hebrew research center practicing eugenics.

I see no value judgments or political recommendations, beyond the poor (as usual) media coverage. Understanding how people are genetically different isn't instantly bad. Everyone knows a diverse gene pool is critical to survival, even if some traits are undesirable most of the time. Sadly, since Hitler was mentioned in the story, there's little point even discussing it.

Re:oh the irony

[wizardforce]

oh the irony of a hebrew research center practicing eugenics.

I don't think that word means what you think it means.. Finding a correlation between a gene's length and biochemical changes which can result in altered behavior isn't the same as "practicing eugenics" any more than determining the gene responsible for phenylketonuria as an example.

Re:hmm

[LaskoVortex]

Wow, even the summary pulled a Godwin.

I agree. Instead of "Little Hitlers", they should have said "Little Napoleons". I wonder if overexpression of the AVPR1 gene also makes you seem short. That would explain a correlation between perceived height and incessant posturing, loud voices, and stomping around. That is to say, such behavior actually makes people seem shorter--I think it can actually take 2 to 3 inches off one's height. I've seen a 5'4" guy remark that a 5'5" guy had a Napolean's complex. I had to agree, the little Napolean that the 5'4" guy was referring to always seemed short while I never even thought about the 5'4" guy's height until that point (not a Little Napolean). But maybe we should cut Little Napoleans a break. Perhaps they can't help it, genetically speaking.

Re:Games != real life

[bogjobber]

If the only reason you don't kill people in real life is because you can't get away with it, you should reexamine your ethics.