Improving Research in the Emerging Field of Cross-Cultural Sociogenetics

Abstract

We offer a critical overview of studies associating genetic differences in the 5-HTTLPR VNTR in the serotonin-transporter gene with societal differences. We also highlight recent findings from individual-level research on 5-HTTLPR generating new hypotheses concerning the effect of genes on culture. We provide an expanded national index reflecting 5-HTTLPR S-allele prevalence as an improved tool for future research. Our preliminary tests of this tool suggest that national S-allele prevalence is not associated with individualism as has been claimed, but with national neuroticism, IQ and school achievement, Hofstede’s fifth dimension of long-term orientation, and Minkov’s societal hypometropia—a measure of risk acceptance and short-term vision in life history strategy. We encourage detailed research of these associations in future studies.

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism impacts moral permissibility of impersonal harmful behaviors

“…We found that the genotype frequencies in the larger Asian sample significantly differed from the Caucasian sample from the previous study (Marsh et al ., 2011). According to a cross-cultural psychological study showing that cultural variation may be a result of gene-brain interplay (Minkov et al ., 2015), the prevalence of the 5-HTTLPR among races may underpin the ethnic and cultural differences in moral behaviors (Baartman et al ., 1999; Moon, 1986). Thus, the new findings extend our understanding of the genetic basis of moral judgment.…”

Cross-Cultural Values: A Meta-Analysis of Major Quantitative Studies in the Last Decade (2010–2020)

“…For further review of the history and development of the study of culture, readers may also be interested in several related literature reviews (Erez and Gati 2004;Taras et al 2009Taras et al , 2010Sullivan and Cottone 2010;Dickson et al 2012;Shockley et al 2017), meta-analyses (Panda and Gupta 2004;Boer and Fischer 2013), historical overviews (Berry et al 1997), and a range of studies (e.g., Esmer and Pettersson 2007;Gelfand et al 2006;Gibbs et al 2007;Miller 2002Miller , 2005Minkov 2008;Minkov and Blagoev 2009;Minkov et al 2015;Miyamoto 2013;Owe et al 2013;Sarala and Vaara 2010;Schimmack et al 2005;Franke and Richey 2010;Shao et al 2010;Stankov 2011;Stankov and Lee 2008;Stankov et al 2014;Stephan and Uhlaner 2010;Toh and Leonardelli 2012;Thalmayer and Saucier 2014;Vignoles et al 2018;Yates et al 2010;Yu 2015;Zou et al 2009). In addition, these journal special issues include articles with more information: (1) The Value of Values in Cross-cultural Research in the Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology (2011; volume 42, issue 4); and (2) Cross-cultural value mismatch in the International Journal of Psychology (e.g., Aumann and Titzmann 2018;Bossong and Keller 2018;Wu et al 2018;Greenfield 2018;Glazer et al 2018).…”

Generalizing Trust

“…The burgeoning literature on gene–environment interactions establishes with increasing clarity that trait-encoding genes distribute in different frequencies across populations and might explain country-level differences in the distribution of psychological traits. Minkov, Blagoev, and Bond (2014) cite various studies that show an individual-level link between the short-allele polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR and risk aversion. In addition, these authors present a strong cross-national correlation between the demographic prevalence of the short-allele polymorphism and “hypometria,” of which risk aversion is a central component.…”