Subjective well-being is heritable and genetically correlated with dominance in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Nov;83(5):1141-9.

Abstract

The hypothesis that subjective well-being (SWB) is heritable and genetically correlated with Dominance was tested using 128 zoo chimpanzees. Dominance was a chimpanzee-specific personality factor including items reflecting Extraversion and low Neuroticism. SWB was measured with a 4-item scale. The best behavior genetic model included additive genetic and nonshared environmental effects for SWB and Dominance, marginal matemal effects for SWB, a high genetic correlation, and a low nonshared environmental correlation. Results indicated that the shared variance between SWB and Dominance was a consequence of common genes and that the unique variance between SWB and Dominance was a consequence of the nonshared environment. These findings indicate that common genes may underlie the correlation between human personality factors and SWB.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Dominance*