Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...

Human Genetics

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...

Impact of Individuals on Individuals

Impact of Individuals on Individuals

Human behavior is intricately shaped by social influences that arise from interactions with others in diverse contexts. These influences not only mold beliefs and attitudes but also drive the regulation of behaviors through both direct communication and observational learning. The study of these processes falls within the domain of social psychology, which seeks to understand how individuals are affected by and affect those around them.Mechanisms of Social InfluenceDirect social influence...

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...

Social Psychology and Individual Behavior

Social Psychology and Individual Behavior

Social psychology examines how group dynamics, emotions, and cultural influences shape individual actions and decision-making. These elements interact to form behavioral patterns that affect personal choices and social interactions.The Role of Group DynamicsGroups play a crucial role in shaping behavior by reinforcing norms and expectations. Individuals derive a sense of self from group membership, often aligning their behaviors with group norms to maintain social cohesion. For example, an...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Associations of red blood cell fatty acids with personality traits: 10-year follow-up in the Kibbutzim Family Study.

The American journal of clinical nutrition·2026

Same author

Schizophrenia in Offspring of Holocaust Survivors: Intergenerational Effects of Preconception Parental Trauma Within the Jerusalem Perinatal Study.

The American journal of psychiatry·2026

Same author

The effect of MDMA administration on oxytocin concentration levels: systematic review and a multilevel meta-analysis in humans.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2025

Same author

The long-term associations of perinatal obesogenic environment with offspring biological aging.

American journal of epidemiology·2024

Same author

Intranasal oxytocin interacts with testosterone reactivity to modulate parochial altruism.

Communications psychology·2024

Same author

Sex bias in pain management decisions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents

A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents

Published on: November 21, 2019

Genetics of human social behavior.

Richard P Ebstein¹, Salomon Israel, Soo Hong Chew

¹Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91905, Israel. rpebstein@gmail.com

|March 30, 2010

Summary

Human social behaviors like empathy and trust are partially hardwired, with specific genes like the oxytocin receptor playing a key role. Research is uncovering the genetic basis of our complex social nature.

More Related Videos

Paradigms for Behavioral Assessment in Drosophila Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Paradigms for Behavioral Assessment in Drosophila Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: September 6, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents

A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents

Published on: November 21, 2019

Paradigms for Behavioral Assessment in Drosophila Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Paradigms for Behavioral Assessment in Drosophila Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: September 6, 2024

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Behavioral Genetics
Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

Humans are highly social, exhibiting complex cooperative behaviors comparable to eusocial insects.
Twin and family studies indicate a genetic component to human social traits like empathy, altruism, and trust.
Understanding the genetic underpinnings of social behavior has advanced with insights from mammalian studies.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the genetic basis of uniquely human social behaviors.
To identify specific genes involved in the "social brain."
To connect findings from lower mammal social behavior research to human genetics.

Main Methods:

Review of twin and family studies on human social traits.
Analysis of genetic research on social behavior in mammals, including voles.
Examination of genes related to neurotransmitter pathways (dopamine, serotonin) and hormones.

Main Results:

Genes like the arginine vasopressin receptor and oxytocin receptor are crucial for social behavior across species.
Polymorphic genes in dopamine reward pathways, serotonin regulation, and sex hormones also contribute significantly.
These genetic factors provide a biological basis for complex human social interactions.

Conclusions:

Human sociality has a significant, partially hardwired genetic component.
Specific genes, notably those for oxytocin and vasopressin receptors, are key regulators of social behavior.
Further research into these genes can illuminate the evolution and mechanisms of human sociality.