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April 18th, 2012
09:27 AM ET
Are mean people born that way?Let's face it - everyone isn't nice. In fact, being nice is more difficult for some people than others. But is it possible that "niceness" is predetermined by our genes? A new study in the journal Psychological Science suggests this: If you think the world is full of threatening people, you're not going feel compelled to be generous by doing things like volunteering and donating to charity. But if you have certain gene variants, you're more likely to be nice anyway. Now hold on a minute - this doesn't give your mean neighbor an excuse to blame his DNA for not letting kids on the block play on his lawn. It's a little more complicated than that. Researchers offered an online survey to participants asking questions like: –do people have a duty to pay taxes? –are people basically good or bad? –do you engage in charitable activities? Then some participants sent in samples of their saliva so researchers could check out their DNA. A total of 348 U.S. residents were included in the final analysis. Researchers analyzed the spit samples. They looked at the particular variants of receptor genes these people had for the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin. In case you're wondering, oxytocin and vasopressin are very similar structurally, and seem to have some similar social effects. For example, they're both associated with pair bonding - aka bringing closer together two spouses or a mom and her child. In fact, that's why oxytocin has been called "the cuddle hormone." But while the hormones have similar effects on the brain, they differ in the rest of the body. Oxytocin can induce labor. Vasopressin increases when you're thirsty and prevents the formation of urine. As the authors of the new study expected, people who see the world as a threatening place tended to not engage in charitable activities - except if they had particular variants of the receptor genes that the researchers were looking for. It turns out that if the receptors are especially sensitive to oxytocin and vasopressin, even people who fear others in society will do nice things, said Michael Poulin, assistant professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo and study co-author. "We’ve found that these genes also predict people’s willingness to be nice on behalf of other people or aggressive on behalf of other people," Poulin said. In other words, such biological factors may influence your willingness to defend someone else. That is consistent with other research, which found that rat mothers are more willing to be aggressive on behalf of pups when they received oxytocin. Previous research has also shown that these hormones make people more socially active. Blame the DNA? Keep in mind that this study only shows associations between genes, hormones and behavior, and doesn't prove direct causal links. It's not a "blame your DNA" situation, Poulin said. "While we found some interesting interactions with genes and perceptions of the world, I would resist saying that we found genes that control behavior," he cautioned. The next step for this area of study is to look at how sensitive people are to different kinds of threats. A few questions that might be posed by future researchers: –Is it important for people to believe they're helping good people? –Is there something in a person's background or upbringing that influences how threatening they believe the world is? Poulin and colleagues will also look at what other behaviors these genes might influence. So it's probably a little too early for mean people to start using their DNA as a convenient excuse for their bad behavior. But maybe someday...
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wrong!!!
you become mean with others when you learn the true meaning of life..!!
No one knows the true meaning of life, but I don't know why knowing it would make you want to be mean to other people. I think it's best to just assume we should be nice.
AmericanSam
I was nice but not anymore because I know people..!!
Man, you guys are slow. The true meaning of life is 42.
You have learned the true meaning of life? I rather doubt that.
the meaning of life which is to be mean? don't find excuses for your bitterness, work on it.
The true meaning of life is to reproduce, that's what our DNA is programmed to do, survive; therefore, that's our purpose.
I agree with the original poster, this life is full of self interested parties willing to do many things, good and bad, to satisfy their interests. Cynical, some may say, but the empirical evidence speaks for itself.
What about charity, and such activities? Well, if you break them down to their basest forms, you'll see the fundamental reason for people participating in those acts of kindness...to make THEMSELVES feel good about doing something nice.
Everyone is nice until you get to know them.
you see?
you all mean
that is what I'm talking about..!!
Only thru the Watch Tower organization can you find the meaning of life.
Ahhh...the TRUE meaning of life. You know, I happened along the true meaning once while on a scavenger hunt. Wasn't an item on the list so I threw it out. Now I feel bad because I recognze people have been looking for that item since the beginning of dawn and I cannot for the life of me remember where it was I threw it. Now i just feel horrible. Sorry.
The activities they are using to judge nice vs mean is questionable. People who don't want people on their grass are not necessarily mean and people who give to charity aren't necessarily nice. People give to charity for selfish reasons like to look good to their peers or for write offs. It is a fascinating study however. I wish they could measure day to day activities and human interactions instead though. Most people are good but do mean things, some more than others.
I agree with you Lila. Also I would like to add that parents that let kids tromp through other people's yard don't sound very nice to me.
TOTALLY agree. Was thinking the same exact thing as I was reading the article!
I agree with ya chica....their assumption to "nice and mean people are questionable. No one really knows what makes a person mean or nice. I feel it has to alot to do with a good and proper up-bringing by both your parents....but hey....this is only my opinion only...
Lila...taking this way too seriously. If you don;t want people walking on your grass then clearly only mean people will be walking on your grass and you have the right to stand your grass and be angry back and still be nice. Then again, growing grass is something mean people who do not care for the environment do.
Yeah, Keri, those terrible kids bending the grass blades by walking on them, how inconsiderate...they are kids. Kids just want to play and have fun. They don't worry about whether someone doesn't want them in thier yard. Now, kids will tease the ogre next door once the adult acts like a child over some imaginary border in the yard. Maybe telling the kids that they would like if they playe dsomewhere else they would appreciate it and they are allowed to come over and retrieve the ball it's ok...some mutual respect...then the kids would actuall learn someting other than old pepole are mean.
I love how half of this conversation turned into a debate over government.
I think it makes PERFECT sense to study something like this.
For those who didn't get it, they found out that people with a higher concentration of certain hormones react differently. Ergo, if someone has a genetic code to create more or less of the hormone, their behavior might be corrected at an early age with something to balance it out.
And honestly, I'm one of those people who will be nice and give people the benefit of the doubt that they will treat me the same way. Protective over family and close friends, and who stops to help someone who ran off the road while everyone jst slows down and passes by.
But people who treat others like crap, usually turn into criminals as well.
Example, my ex kicking the door in and nearly hitting me in the process as I was getting up to open it. Had absolutely zero regret and I don't think ever apologized for it. He came within a couple of inches of me going to the er and having battery and assault charges. Same person who I spent 3years with and has never shown any signs towards physical violence towards me. Reason? I closed the door to change because I thought his mom was home. Ergo ex. Point is, if all it is, is a chemical imbalance, then all he'd have to do is pop a pill and hopefully treat the next girl better.
In many situations, mean behavior leads to violence and crimes, and if we were able to pinpoint the source of it, then we can correct it at a young age and not have people grow up to torture, kill, rape, emotionally or physically abuse, or rob others. It is the source and introduction to serial killers and sociopaths. So this "useless study" might be used to correct many mental instabilities and issues before they fully develop.
Also, I don't believe that external things affect the way people respond to others.
Falling hard after the death of my father, and I have to say my life is nowhere near perfect, but I still take pleasure in it and appreciate what I have. His death felt like the world was jst crushing me, but seeing how much he suffered, I was the only person who didn't cry at his funeral, knowing that he led a fulfilling life and raised me well to be understanding and caring. I was 14. He was the only person in my life who I spent time with day in and day out. I felt it was unfair, but it didn't change me into a mean person.
Not to be mean but, being mean is a sign of mental laziness.
when a person is nice it doesn't mean they aren't aware that the situation is annoying etc...
but they fight the desire to lose there temper and be mean and still try to keep their dignity and be nice.
And that takes hard work to do sometimes.
People who continue to be nice are scared and weak.
People who are mean also lack morals. Some moral values are universal, such as not harming other people. Perhaps that also feeds into the laziness idea. Some might care about what effects their actions have on others if they took the time to form a rational thought. Of course, some have just decided that nobody else matters. It's all me, me, me. Bernie Madoff is a good example.
Lady Gaga, you sound like a stupid child. Grow up and listen to some real music. Jazz would be a great start. Stop promoting idiocy with your words and awful taste in music. Simple music is for simple minds.
No, Gaga, If we continue to be nice it's because of our self-awareness. It may surprise you to know that I like to come across as gracious, it shows that I have the strength to overcome a bad situation!
Also, you might want to rethink your opinion on "weakness". If I continue being nice to a mean person it means that I have a plan to help him/her "hang" himself/herself without looking as though I knew anything was going on.
@JewsAreMean, you must be an anti-Jewish/anti-Israel extremist fron Hamas, Islamic Jihad or some other unholy bunch of homicidal maniacs & pathological liars.
Of couse, you could also be a member of the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nation or some other bunch of unholy abominations.
Eitherway inteligent human beings will eventually find a way to eradicate your kind like Smallpox & the Plague.
You might consider visiting a Synagogue & asking the Rabbi to teach you something about Judaism.
Kent – I think he's a victim of Jewish theft. read his posts closely. Stop assuming "a complaint" is a "threat". It's BS.
Kent – What planet are you from?
I Do think that mean people are born that way ,I am a very mean person and I know I was born that way I've been mean since day one ! 🙂 it's fun !
Your mistaking mean with ugly, no worries easily made mistake.
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wvwnews.net (western voices world news)
ramzpaul.com (prophet)
The Talmud itself says , Take advantage of weak and poor .
So if you fit these two conditions , I'm going after you .
TRUST ME . LOL
That would be true, at the end of the evening I always look for the weakest young female that is to poor for a cab and take advantage.
In life, I have observed that people usually perceive their own power, in any situation, and act accordingly. Here are some examples: If I own some land and a neighbor starts using that land without permission, am I mean to question them? Another example: If a cashier has negative comments about what brand of toilet paper I am purchasing, is she mean or just foolish to start telling me about her choice of toilet paper? If a so called friend makes rude comments at a social gathering concerning my choice of footwear, is she mean or trying to help by making fun of how high my platforms might be? In each situation, the person who feels power tries to force their own sense of power on others and that is perceived as mean. Perhaps it is. Finally, will someone help out people they perceive to be mean or bad people? It all depends on my own situation. If I think someone is mean or bad, I might not want to help them, but if they are in a situation of power over me, I might be reluctantly forced to help them out, to save my life, my job or my own situation. If you believe that people are reincarnated, then, yes, you might come back with a mean personality that you have to either change or use to your advantage. Psychologically speaking, we use what works, and if being nice works, we use it. Unfortunately, if being mean has worked, people will do that. Somehow, we use the reinforcement to continue a behavior. Mean people will only change if they have to.
Great...now A HOLES will have THEIR own rights. Just another group looking for a way to explain themselves off as normal.
Hey lets be fair, if you can claim to normal then surely so can they.
Everybody is a sinner, sin was passed down from Adam and Eva to humanity. Of course we all are sinners, we all can be mean,lie kill etc. Without Jesus we will be living in darkness.
Very insightful, so what your saying is that Jesus pays everyones electric bill so that we are in the light.
@GAGA It should be "Jesus pays everyones spiritual bills so that we are in the light."
gera: wow, nothing like the relevance of edited, translated iron age hearsay.
Everybody is a sinner, sin was passed down from Adam and Eva to humanity. Of course we all are sinners, we all can be mean,lie kill etc. Without Jesus we will be living in darkness, He is the light.
Gera, please don't bring religious views into a scientific discussion unless you have proof of your 'adam and eve' and wish to argue like an adult, and not like a 10 year old telling me "but the cat is in the hat"
Jesus died 2000 years ago, if he is so great then where is he? The hell is he waiting for? Another child to be murdered maybe?
I don't believe in any religion, and I was raised in a religion based household and went to church every day until the day I stood up and told my mother I cannot continue to do so due to the fact that I unfortunately don't believe in it. You can tell me I'm going to hell all you want, but point is, I'm a good person. And technically, if you believe in God, then you are putting a God before others in different religious. So any religious person is going to hell on a technicality.
The real blessing is common sense and having the courage and desire to seek out answers, not to believe something you were told blindly and without questioning.
And please don't take this as an attack on you personally, it's just me stating my understanding and opinion.
But this is a scientific discussion, one which did not include any religious views or opinions. Therefore it is simply obvious that it doesn't have to be included in the comments following it.
Chi we're not save by works but by grace. Apparently your parents did not understand that. Challenge God and ask Jesus that if he really exist to transform your mind and heart. Hint: accept that you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ died for us in the cross so we can have eternal life. If you truly believe that He will forgive you and will let you see the light.
Chi = Trying to be controlling. There must be a test for that but based upon her answer I think we all know it was nurture not nature.
People that throw religion in my face at every turn make me mean.
Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?
I have become quite cynical over the years toward humanity as a direct result of mean people. I believe the majority of humans are mean, rude, crass, dirty, smelly, impatient, ignorant bullies.
Can you back that up with any facts you little piece of crap.
Up yours.
rush limbaugh,hannity,o reilly,coulter,all the drones at fox news,murdoch,lou dobbs,majority of the republican party,ALL the tea party sheep,the NRA,and lets not forget the illuminating genius of Ted nugent,face it anyone who wears that hat must no what he is talking about.Yes the above prove people are born mean...prove me wrong!
you reap what you sow
Mean people are okay as long as they accept responsibility for their actions. Mean people who do not accept responsibility are what Hollywood features for entertainment.
In my opinion it's okay to be mean to others if they are not pleasing to you. Fat people for instance, I despise them until they become healthy productive citizens. Until then I openly express my feelings of disgust against them. People who speak their minds without knowing the whole of a situations also receive my wrath.
I accept full responsibility for my actions whether mean or benevolent.
Im on the right track baby, I was born this way!!!
You mean, "Irrelevant and off-topic?"
Nope.... we are products of our environments.
Really, so your enviroment is a gay club.
When we elect creeps as leaders, and those leaders allow vicitmization of the populace via corrupt courts, you get mean people. Send my grant funding now. Isn't this analysis as valid as anything else? Write the check to "Palpable Injustice in American Courts".
Idiotic comments like yours is what makes people mean, I dont know you but want to smash in your face.
Gaga – Choke on this...
More psycho babble defending any act as genetic predestination. Mean people are mean either because their upbringing didn't convince them that being nice is more important than getting ahead or because (despite they're upbrining) they've decided they're the most important person around.
Here's a more honest definition: Mean people are victims of injustice – most often, by theft by jewish lawyers in our courrpt courts where "judicial immunity" fosters criminal behavior.
Being nice is weak, you will be stepped on and taken advantage of.
http://www.Hear-The-Truth.com
Are mean people born that way? On average they are ( If you don't get it, ask a math person)
I think we are all born nice, its the Jews taking everything away from us that makes us mean.
From my experience with corrupt Jewish judges and lawyers - Adolph was correct. OWN IT.
Adolf had the support of the truth before he choose to imprison the Witnesses of Germany, he was not wrong in all he did, he was trying to save mankind from the choosen peoples eventual destruction that they are pulling all other nations into. The watchtower last month spoke of how Hitler could have brought us out of Satans system.
jews are mean. Here's their "system": 1) steal ; 2) ignore the victim; 3) when the victim complains acuse them of anti-semtism, or being "a threat".. Jews are mean. Selfish people. They cause NOTHING but pain and suffering.
Not wanting the local kids to play on your lawn does not necessarily make you a mean person. It may mean you spend a lot of time making your lawn look nice and you don't want it messed up. That said. I personally don't believe mean people are born that way, they are made that way through their life's experiences.
More often it means, "Fear the jew lawyer who will sue you IF the kid scrapes his knee." They're dangerous to society.
You are born good but carrying sin. Micheal the angel came down to earth and changed into Jesus so he could save us from evil and sin and death and bring goodness. Everyone outside of the Jehovahs Witness is of the world and the world is of Satan so yes you are all mean, but salvation thru the truth of the JW"s can save you. We have elders and overseers looking forward to speaking with men, and when you learn the truth you can tell your wife in a simpler way she will understand. Praise jehovah.
Family court judges are mean. They steal money and rights from fathers protected by immunity. America SUCKS.
By doing so they efefctively ABUSE KIDS while spouting , "This is in the best interest of children."
Very true, you should come to a Kingdom Hall, we help finance and fight for your rights as father and head of a household. Your wife or GF etc... has an obligation to do as she is told and not tear apart the family. This is Gods law.
Mean people are created by injustice – especially by OUR broken family court system in America.
Satans system is horrible
Mean people are honest. Happy people are where dishonest mean people hide. 🙂
Sarah has betrayed the truth and her position as wife and mother. She should stop being a harlot and stay at home so her kids do not become retarded or pregnant. All these things she is cursed with because she has not stayed home, pleasuring her husband and fullfilling the needs of her family.
Let's face it...we are all animals. We are just one step away from survival of the fittest.
That is not true, I hate when people say stupid things and pretend they have any credibility.
Only libs are...
DNA may contribute to the possibility to be mean, but being mean itself is a personal choice and nothing else.
Influenced by Satan to be exact.
Obama supporters are often very mean people
I accept the theory that we're born mean and that it takes extra effort for a normal person to be nice. A lot of the labeling has to do with perception. Caveat: If you're one of those people who is always nice, you need a psychologist/psychiatrist because there's something wrong with you.
Only love is real, everything else an illusion.
Most people are born mean and get worse with age & experiences.
Nice people hide.
Mean people seek out the most attention and interaction and become your boss, your president, etc. The very people who are the LEAST suited to be in power make up 100% of it. That is why the world sucks.
Couldn't we all be nice to each other, respect each other, strive to be better!
Another story with no answers that everyone has the answer for. I believe we must have a DNA sequence that addicts us to spend eternity solving riddles with no solution. There are some who become mean when it may appear there is no answer and then there are those who grow happy thinking they know what it is. For those who want the real answer: medicinal marijuana.
So now Republicans can blame their genes.......
Cheer up! you were born that way, there is nothing you can do if you are such healtless Bas&%rds....
When I think of mean people, Tea Party activist come to mind. I think it may be a requirement of theirs to be a member. Many Republicans meet the meaness test.
Well that's just plain mean so how do you explain your own self.
I guess if a person can be born gay then mean is also possible.
I'm not sure if people are born that way or not, but I noticed that people who tend to be mean usually wear all their issues as clothing... it's not hard to pick out these people in a crowd... Yes, in the beginning they put on a good show... but if you watch them or watch the people that have known them for a while and how they react to the mean person then its easy to detect and avoid people like this... With that said this is how I handle mean people... I give them a taste of what they are serving times 10... I don't play around... I spent the better half of my life being the victim to mean people... As I matured and became independent... These experiences changed me for the better... They made me stronger, wiser, and all around better. I'm usually nice until provoke... Everyone also gets a rudeness meter when it comes to being rude to me or around me because we can all have bad days and unknowingly lash out at others... but when your coins run out don't come parking on me... or else...lol
Funny how some people who think they are nice find such joy in being mean. I bet you are a very unique mean nice person.
Well Gene... If it helps... People have been known to say I remind them of "Dexter" or "Hannibal"... But I am never the aggressor... but heck... I'm certainly not going to stop someone whose asking to be smashed to stop being rude... it takes the fun out of punishing them...lol
Yes...what exactly is DNA? I think we over simplify the idea of DNA. How much does the environment within which strands of DNA exist affect what is built/constructed? There are so many layers of environments geographically and cellularly that may play a role. Well, whatever...if it is a DNA situation than ADA will cover them and we should simply accept mean people because this is how they are made. OMG...maybe we can make everyone exactly the same some day...wouldn;t that be cool. No nice people or bad people, heavy or light people, fast or slow...intelligent or unintelligent...this could be so much fun. Life would again be fun...and maybe fair. 🙂
I love mean people. No one could be nice without them..
It isn't hard to imagine Rush Limpbaugh being a rotton, mean child throwing many, many tantrums (then and now).
Behavior in these matters is LEARNED.
Ahhh...the old nature/nuture debate lives on. I think we are too ignorant to really know but one would have to ask how some of the nicest people grow up in absolutely horrible environments and some of the meanest had absolutely wonderful enivronments. Do we have choice...any at all?
I have a child who was born mean. It took me a long time to realize it. At first, I just thought my child was independent – once something was learned, no one could help with that task ever again. I was bitten once because I tried to carry my child when the child could already walk. Growing up, my child would constantly try to correct siblings, us as parents and all grandparents. This child needed all the attention, too. If it was felt that a sibling was receiving more attention, an argument would ensue. The teen years were the worst – daily arguments with us and siblings, running away, skipping school, etc. I tried private talks through the years – explaining how to be nice and make friends, why you should be kind to your siblings, why you should respect your elders, etc. During the teen years, we went to a family therapist. All to no avail. This child is now 32, married and has children that we are not allowed to see because my husband and I don't conform to this child's idea of what we were supposed to be as parents or currently are as grandparents. Our other children are nothing like this child. They are kind and laid back. Consequently they are not allowed in this child's life either.
It's your fault. You had sex with a Jewish lawyer.
A crooked family court stole my rights and money to the tune of $1M+. Now, they aer abusing my kid with immunity from prosecution. No one cares. I'm mean now. That's genetic? You're insane and I'm angry. Angry is mean now. Lots of luck. Welcome to American Dystopia aided and abetted by a corrupt judicial system hiding behind "immunity." Ban immunity.
So out of 6 boys i was the mean one because i was born that way. Wheres my lawyer im going to sue everyone that help me back because of the way i was born. I can just see the court cases coming.
How are you going to sue God for for faulty DNA? Who else are you going to sue, your parents? Proving to all that you are mean? Vicious circle.