Gene of Popularity

Alexandra Burt, PhD, of Michigan State University asserts that "The idea is that your genes predispose you to certain behaviors, and those behaviors elicit different kinds of social reactions from others," Burt said in a news release. "And so what's happening is your genes are to some extent driving your social experiences."



Studies of a gene that affects brain levels of the chemical messenger serotonin (the 5HT2A serotonin-receptor gene) are supporting this theory.

Sightist assembled more than 200 college men with an average age of 19 into two groups. One group met together to plan a party on a strict budget; the other met to plan a party for which the sky was the limit. Immediately after the planning session, individuals rated their peers on popularity. They also gave a DNA sample.

"So the gene predisposed them to rule-breaking behavior, and their rule-breaking behavior made them more popular," Burt says.