4 Troubled Teens Blog

Genes Make You Break Rules, Making You More Popular

A University of Michigan study found that males who are rule-breakers tend to be popular, and that their behavior has a genetic basis.

Professor Alexandra Burt collected DNA samples from over 200 male college students, and then had them interact for an hour. Afterward, participants filled out questionnaires about which participants they liked best.

The most popular in the study had a certain gene associated with rule-breaking behaviors.

"The gene predisposed them to rule breaking behaviors and that rule breaking behavior made them more popular," Dr. Burt said in her report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Development.

Labels: genetics, risky_behaviors, popular

Posted By: Aspen Education Group