Do Genes Shape Your Morality?

Research into biological correlates of social behaviors has yielded many insights. Twin and family studies have shown genetic influences on religiosity, political affiliation, and other behaviors. Nasal oxytocin and vasopressin have been found to affect behaviors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptor genes (OXTR and AVPR1A, respectively) have been linked to various affiliative behaviors. Now, researchers have investigated whether OXTR and AVPR1A SNPs affect higher-order moral behaviors.

First, 228 undergraduates with genetic data completed 36 moral-judgment tasks (e.g., whether to kill one person to save others “for the greater good” [utilitarian choice]). Analyses examined 100 genetic markers …