Gene x environment interplay on indicators of social inequality

One of the most challenging tasks in social research is the identification of determinants of individual success and failure over the life course. Research from the past 50 years has come to the conclusion that individual life... [ view full abstract ]

One of the most challenging tasks in social research is the identification of determinants of individual success and failure over the life course. Research from the past 50 years has come to the conclusion that individual life trajectories arise out of a complex interplay of genes and environments. Disentangling this gene x environment interplay with respect to indicators of social inequality is a central goal of psychological and sociological research. This symposium brings together recent findings on the development of different indicators of social inequalities across adolescence and adulthood within and between societies to gain a deeper understanding of how environmental factors are intertwined with genetics shaping individual life courses. First, Juliana Gottschling will present a study on the heritability of cognitive abilities using a nuclear-twin family design to assess the presence of assortative mating and cultural transmission in a representative sample of twin families from Germany. Further, given that the Scarr-Rowe hypothesis of Gene x Socioeconomic Status (SES) interaction is a core hypothesis in the nature-nurture debate, Eric Turkheimer will present and discuss recent findings on Gene x SES interactions for cognitive abilities using different methodological approaches. Third, analyses on the development of self-esteem as a key construct for a variety of positive life outcomes will be outlined by Rainer Riemann by focusing on the interplay of social and genetic influences on self-esteem using a moderated extended twin family design. Wendy Johnson will present a study on gene x SES interaction effects for body mass index across adolescence and adulthood comparing Germany and the US. Elisabeth Hahn will present a study on the role of cultural conditions in Germany and the US for the relative importance of genetic influences on alcohol misuse across adolescence and early adulthood. Finally, Chris Dawes will show results of a moderation model on the relationship between the polygenic score for educational attainment and voter turnout by exogenous electoral environment.