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Happy Genes | 66 comments (66 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Happy Genes (4.00 / 3)
The statistical model predicts that the role of our DNA in feeling happiness is about 50 percent.

Wouldn't this mean that "nurture" still plays as large a role as "nature?"

Bottom-line, however: grouching people, beware. If more proof of the happy genes lies ahead, you can forget about blaming others. It has always been about you.

I really think that is a dangerous road to go down.  Ultimately we are all responsible for finding our own happiness, but I am suspicious of any implication that suffering is a sign of some inherent genetic weakness in the person who suffers.  Maybe I overreact, but it sounds too much like the old way of explaining women's "irrational" emotionality on their sex and not their social predicament.  Might be half true, but conveniently sidesteps any discussion of the fact that they might have something to be legitimately unhappy about.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire

by p------- on Thu Jan 26th, 2006 at 04:00:19 PM EST

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Happy Genes | 66 comments (66 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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