Why is one person naturally drawn to crowds while another would rather spend an evening alone? Why does one individual meticulously plan everything while another thrives on spontaneity? And why do some people seem more emotionally reactive, curious or trusting than others?
For decades, psychologists have studied these differences through personality traits. Now, a huge international genetics study is adding another layer to the picture: some of the variation in personality is linked to differences in our DNA, but the genetic contribution is spread across thousands of tiny effects rather than controlled by a handful of “personality genes.”
