The world’s incredible outpouring of help to thhe people of Haiti raises the queestion: are we evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive? A research team at the University of California, Berkeley, says “yes.” They are challenging long-held beliefs that human beings are wired to be selfish. In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive.The researchers have found compelling evidence that people who are more empathetic possess a particular variation of the oxytocin receptor gene.
The findings support other research showing that oxytocin plays a major role in countering stress. Previous studies have also linked this genetic variation with autism and parenting styles, says study coauthor Sarina Rodrigues, assistant professor of psychology at Oregon State University.
All humans inherit a variation of this gene or "allele" from each parent. The study looked at the three combinations of gene variations of the oxytocin receptor. The most empathetic—able to get an accurate read on others' emotions—had two copies of the "G allele." In contrast, members of the AA and AG allele groups were found to be less capable of putting themselves in the shoes of others and more likely to get stressed out in difficult situations.
"This is the first study to suggest that a tendency to be more empathetic and stress reactive than others may be influenced by a single gene," notes Rodrigues.
Informally known as the "cuddle" or "love" hormone, oxytocin is secreted into the bloodstream and the brain, where it promotes social interaction, bonding and romantic love, among other functions. It is also key to procreation, activating uterine contractions during childbirth and lactation for breastfeeding.
But while nature might have given some of us the DNA to be more empathetic, those who are not in the GG group should not despair, Rodrigues says. "There are plenty of people in the AA or AG gene pool who are empathetic, caring individuals," adds Rodrigues, who is not a double G but counts herself as caring and empathetic.
In the study of some 200 young men and women of diverse ethnicities, participants, who provided DNA samples, filled out questionnaires that gauged their levels of empathy and their ability to read emotions displayed in eye expressions. Those with the GG variation were better at reading eye expressions than their AA and AG counterparts.
Participants were also were given stress reactivity tests, including one that measured their heart rate as they awaited loud blasts of noise. While female participants were found overall to be more sensitive to stress, both men and women in the GG group maintained a lower heart rate in the face of the sound blasts..
"Not everyone is going to be a touchy-feely person," Rodrigues adds. "We should reach out to people who aren't because research shows it's better for everyone to be socially connected."
The study was funded by the Metanexus Institute and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center.
Jason McManus from UC Berkeley news
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