Liking for name predicts happiness: A behavioral genetic analysis

Nostalgia and Self-Enhancement

“…It is possible that genetic factors influence the BTAE and other self-enhancement indicators via neural mechanisms (Cai, Wu, Shi, Gu, & Sedikides, 2016). Nonetheless, our results, in conjunction with previous findings on the heritability of self-esteem and narcissism (Luo, Cai, et al, 2014; Luo, Shi, et al, 2014; Neiss et al, 2002, 2006; Vernon et al, 2008), indicate that nonshared environments make a large contribution (40–72%) to individual differences in self-enhancement. Therefore, nonshared environments (e.g., parenting, schooling) are also crucial in that respect.…”

“…Third, we established the heritability of self-enhancement. An emerging literature indicates that self-regard (including self-esteem, name-liking, and narcissism) is heritable (Luo, Cai, et al, 2014; Luo, Shi, et al, 2014; Neiss et al, 2002, 2006; Vernon et al, 2008). Our finding on the heritability of the BTAE complemented this literature.…”

“…We also wondered about the extent to which self-enhancement is heritable. Although the possibility of genetic effects on the BTAE per se has largely gone unexplored, numerous studies have demonstrated substantial genetic contribution to variation in self-regard, including self-esteem, narcissism, and name-liking (Luo, Cai, Sedikides, & Song, 2014; Luo, Shi, Cai, Wu, & Song, 2014; Neiss, Sedikides, & Stevenson, 2002, 2006; Vernon, Villani, Vickers, & Harris, 2008). These findings suggest that the related construct of BTAE may also be genetically influenced.…”

The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt): An Update

“…The BeTwiSt has produced numerous important results regarding the genetic and environmental bases of some vital social and personality factors such as different categories of narcissism (Table 4; Cai & Luo, 2017;Cai et al, 2016;Cai et al, 2015;Luo, Cai, Sedikides et al, 2014;Luo et al, 2016;Luo, Shi et al, 2014;Zhou, Wong et al, 2018). As shown in Table 4, most phenotypes were influenced by genes and non-shared environments.…”

“…For example, the two dimensions of narcissism (i.e., intrapersonal grandiosity and interpersonal entitlement, agentic narcissism, and communal narcissism) were largely independent of each other in terms of their genetic and environmental sources (Luo, Cai, Sedikides et al, 2014;. However, some associations were driven by common genetic and non-shared environmental influences, such as the positive associations between name-liking and subjective wellbeing (Luo, Shi et al, 2014) and between global narcissism and impulsive buying (Cai et al, 2015). These findings have provided novel evidence for theories and deepen our understanding of society and personality psychology.…”