How do you pick your friends? Study shows DNA may influence how we choose who to hang out with
18 years ago
Posts: 16
tudy shows Friendship may lie in the Genes
A new study suggest that DNA-guide temperament helps decide
whom people are drawn to.The study shows that as people mature genetic factors may strongly influence who they choose to be friends with.
The Archive of General Psychiatry journal tracked more than 1,800 male twin pairs from mid childhood to early adulthood between the years of 1998 and 2004.
The study showed as people grow and move out of their home environment, genetically influenced temperament actively influences the kinds of friend we like to hang out with and how gentic and family environmental factors contribute to the ways in which we create our own social environment.
They are hoping to use the findings to better understand who may be at risk for future substance abuse or other.
The study is said to clearly demonstrate an understanding of the pathway from genes to antisocial behaviors including drug abuse externalizing behaviors like conduct and antisocial peronality disorder.
Do you think this is possible that DNA play a big part in who we choose
to be friends with?

18 years ago
Posts: 2896
Warn: Banned
As psychology always taken a stand on this matter, Personality, 50 environment and 50 hereditary.
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18 years ago
Posts: 65
If we need to start from a base, that should be "Scientifics have a really limited way of thinking".They see things in their own environment an think it ends there.
Well, they didnt explain very good how does it work, but hey, with those arguments I can do a scientific statement too! I did it at the beginning of the post, btw.

18 years ago
Posts: 4030
I don't think the research was conclusive. There might be truth to how our genes affect our personalities and who we decide to be friends with, but I still think the major part of it is due to how we were raised and the enviroment we grew up.
There are things that I would rather not overanalyze. I don't even chose my friends, they just pop out of nowhere.

18 years ago
Posts: 260
Hmm. Never thought genes could influence who you hang out with, but the psychologists are always trying to find links between drug use and genetics...guess that's where the 'friends' part comes in? "Friends help friends get drugs"...or is it "friends don't let friends drive drunk"..? lol They kinda rhyme, so each is good to me.
I have seen proof that genetics plays a part in who you choose as a suitable mate. The nasty unwashed t-shirt experiment that I learned about in evolution showed that we are attracted to potential mates through scent of their genes - and the antibodies they have - because if we choose a mate that has different resistances or genetic traits than us, our offspring have a higher chance of survival. Also helps prevent the degradation of our species in that it is a deterrent to incestuous relationships - something that was an important thing when the gene pool was small at the beginning of our races evolution.
I don't think friends have as strong a link as mates, so genes influencing friends seems a little far fetched. I agree with @amaranthine in that most people just stumble on their friends, whether in school or at work or through groups where you share similar interests. Considering three people that I love (my husband, highschool boyfriend, and bf from HS who I still see 12 years after HS) all share the same b-day though (same year and everything), I'm more prone to believe astrology can influence who your friends are than genes. lol

18 years ago
Posts: 1502
hmm... i can believe it...
actually, me and my mom are a live proof to that... 🤢
we both get along with the same type of ppl, and will probably choose similar best friends.
also, the terrytory issues i have for fellow females, i inherited from her (should give you a clue on the relationship between us girls living in a small karavan alone....)
both of us have mainly guy friends, that r older than us, or need our protection, and neither of us can befriend more than one girl...
yea... its all in the genes....
the best security guard, EVER.

18 years ago
Posts: 1574
casting a vote for stumbling onto friends.
wonder how the study takes into account friends in different environments. Coming from a small town, options for friends locally can be small so genetics smenetics would have way less or no room to play around if that pans out

18 years ago
Posts: 1850
It's extremely difficult to separate the effects of heredity & environment for humans.
Are you like your parent(s) because you grew up with them, or because you share their genes? Are you different from your siblings because you're genetically different, or because on some unconscious level you're differentiating yourself, or because you've grown up in slightly different circumstances (oldest vs. middle vs. youngest, for example)?
The most conclusive studies have been of identical twins raised apart, but there aren't that many to study. Heredity & environment both have a big role, but the exact amount of influence each has almost certainly varies from person to person.
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18 years ago
Posts: 279
I guess, before I would choose a stance, I wonder where this article came from and what the specifics of the actual journal article are. The quoted article is a little vague to base a good opinion on.
18 years ago
Posts: 1650
I suppose that DNA and environment will affect you. Each person is different, has a different nature, and has different DNA. Blood types are shown to affect personality.
My friends do just pop out of nowhere too in school. But it is interesting that similar people hang out together. Who knows?

18 years ago
Posts: 2596
Erm. this is not true but this is what i think xD
DNA gives different personality. As DNA rumored to define the type of person (ex: B type of guy is this this this. that that that). "Rumored" also said that elements/zodiacs also attract people (ex: dog is not a familiar zodiac with mouse [i think] Fire is scared of Water)
So, in general what i am saying is "personality" may influence how we choose who to hang out with <- copied from the title and change the word DNA xD And DNA affects your personality..
Well there you go 🙂 make sense to me, in logical way.
But in scientific way.. -> Whatever 🙄
Quote from chueisha
Erm. this is not true but this is what i think xD
DNA gives different personality. As DNA rumored to define the type of person (ex: B type of guy is this this this. that that that). "Rumored" also said that elements/zodiacs also attract people (ex: dog is not a familiar zodiac with mouse [i think] Fire is scared of Water)
So, in general what i am saying is "personality" may influence how we choose who to hang out with <- copied from the title and change the word DNA xD And DNA affects your personality..
Well there you go 🙂 make sense to me, in logical way.
But in scientific way.. -> Whatever 🙄
I live in the world of meat and bone, so I think that DNA affects one's personality not blood type zodiacs etc. What kind of personality would a person with no blood have incase that person is not dead yet?

18 years ago
Posts: 2596
Quote from Mamsmilk
Quote from chueisha
Erm. this is not true but this is what i think xD
DNA gives different personality. As DNA rumored to define the type of person (ex: B type of guy is this this this. that that that). "Rumored" also said that elements/zodiacs also attract people (ex: dog is not a familiar zodiac with mouse [i think] Fire is scared of Water)
So, in general what i am saying is "personality" may influence how we choose who to hang out with <- copied from the title and change the word DNA xD And DNA affects your personality..
Well there you go 🙂 make sense to me, in logical way.
But in scientific way.. -> Whatever 🙄I live in the world of meat and bone, so I think that DNA affects one's personality not blood type zodiacs etc. What kind of personality would a person with no blood have incase that person is not dead yet?
Well.. you know how you born in this specific date and month and you get this type of zodiac and blood type or whatever? I thought it's kind of similar to how you get this specific DNA so it's just an example. Anyways "it's rumored" and plus it does not have any evidence so yeah just what i thought xD

18 years ago
Posts: 248
Well it's deffinately proven that gentics/gender play a role in the choosing of friends. i once read in an scientific article that girls form friendships mostly just to belong to a group and that boys form friendships based on mutual gain (kind of like give & take).
Although from personal experience I've concluded that the saying "birds of a feather stick together" is true, since most of my friends have something in common with me and each other
that was my two cents hope it was useful 😁
Words to live by: "Let sleeping dogs lie"
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