Personality and long-term reproductive success measured by the number of grandchildren

Genetic Associations Between Personality Traits and Lifetime Reproductive Success in Humans

“…In addition, we detected sex differences in the underlying genetic personalityfitness associations. These results generally reflect the phenotypic relationships found in previous studies, with extraversion being positively, and neuroticism negatively associated with number of children, and with some differences between the sexes (Berg et al 2013, Berg et al 2014, Dijkstra and Barelds 2009, Jokela et al 2011, Jokela and Keltikangas-Jarvinen 2009, Jokela et al 2010. However, other societal factors may drive the average levels of extraversion and neuroticism in directions opposite to those implied by fertility differences.…”

“…On the phenotypic level, higher extraversion and related traits, such as higher sociability and activity are associated with higher reproductive rates in humans (Alvergne et al 2010a, Berg et al 2013, Berg et al 2014, Dijkstra and Barelds 2009, Jokela et al 2011, Jokela and Keltikangas-Jarvinen 2009, Jokela et al 2009). Traits related to emotional reactivity and stress sensitivity, such as higher neuroticism and higher harm avoidance are, in turn, associated with lower reproductive rates (Jokela et al 2011, Jokela et al 2009, Reis et al 2011.…”

The extraversion continuum in evolutionary perspective: A review of recent theory and evidence

“…Among men, greater manifest extraversion is consistently positively correlated with reproductive success within both small-scale subsistence societies (Alvergne et al, 2010;Bailey et al, 2013;Gurven et al, 2014) and modern industrialized societies (Berg, Lummaa, Lahdenpera, Rotkirch, & Jokela, 2014;Jokela, 2012). Among women, greater extraversion is less strongly associated with reproductive success within small-scale societies (Alvergne et al, 2010;Bailey et al, 2013;Gurven et al, 2014), but has shown positive association with reproduction in modern societies (Berg et al, 2014;Jokela, 2012).…”

Big Five traits as (mal)adaptive behavioural responses to harsh and unpredictable environment: Further evidence for the state-dependent evolution of personality

“…However, negative associations between Openness and reproductive success were detected in a large number of previous studies. These studies have found negative links both with the number of children (Berg, Rotkirch, Väisänen, & Jokela, 2013;Jokela et al, 2011;Međedović et al, 2018;Međedović & Kovačević, 2020;Skirbekk & Blekesaune, 2014) and grandchildren (Berg, Lummaa, Lahdenperä, Rotkirch, & Jokela, 2014). It seems that Openness decreases fitness, but we may wonder why this is the case.…”