title: Gene × environment interaction on intergroup bias: the role of 5-HTTLPR and perceived outgroup threat.
abstract: Perceived threat from outgroups is a consistent social-environmental antecedent of intergroup bias (i.e. prejudice, ingroup favoritism). The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with individual variations in sensitivity to context, particularly stressful and threatening situations. Here, we examined how 5-HTTLPR and environmental factors signaling potential outgroup threat dynamically interact to shape intergroup bias. Across two studies, we provide novel evidence for a gene-environment interaction on the acquisition of intergroup bias and prejudice. Greater exposure to signals of outgroup threat, such as negative prior contact with outgroups and perceived danger from the social environment, were more predictive of intergroup bias among participants possessing at least one short allele (vs two long alleles) of 5-HTTLPR. Furthermore, this gene x environment interaction was observed for biases directed at diverse ethnic and arbitrarily-defined outgroups across measures reflecting intergroup biases in evaluation and discriminatory behavior. These findings reveal a candidate genetic mechanism for the acquisition of intergroup bias, and suggest that intergroup bias is dually inherited and transmitted through the interplay of social (i.e. contextual cues of outgroup threat) and biological mechanisms (i.e. genetic sensitivity toward threatening contexts) that regulate perceived intergroup threats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China bkcheon@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Bobby K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ying-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, and School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Joan Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; behavioral genetics; gene × environment interactions; intergroup bias; prejudice