title: Genetic correlates of adult attachment style.
abstract: Attachment theory attempts to explain effects of social experiences, not genes, on personality development. Most studies of the development of attachment insecurities support this emphasis on social experiences rather than genes, although there are exceptions. In the present study, the authors examine associations between attachment insecurities and particular genetic polymorphisms related to emotions and social behavior. They find that (a) anxious attachment is associated with a polymorphism of the DRD2 dopamine receptor gene, (b) avoidant attachment is associated with a polymorphism of the 5HT2A serotonin receptor gene, and (c) the rs53576 A polymorphism of the OXTR oxytocin receptor gene is not associated with attachment insecurities. These findings suggest that attachment insecurities are partially explained by particular genes, although there is still a great deal of individual difference variance that remains to be explained by other genes or social experiences.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Omri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gillath
authors.forename: Phillip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shaver
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics; D010553:Personality Development; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D012701:Serotonin