Do You Overspend? Blame It on Your Debt Gene

bobbyw24 · 11-06-2009, 06:07 AM

Overspending: Blame It on Your Debt Gene?

When you apply for a mortgage in 10 years, you may be asked for your bank statements, your pay stubs… and a cheek swab. At least that’s one possible implication of a new study, which reports a groundbreaking finding: that whether you carry a specific gene variant can predict your propensity to rack up credit-card debt.

Specifically, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, of the London School of Economics, and James Fowler, of the University of California, San Diego, have found that if you carry one or both “low efficiency” alleles of the MAOA gene — we’ll get to what exactly the MAOA gene is and does in a minute — the likelihood that you have credit card debt increases by 8% and 16%, respectively.

It’s a first-of-its-kind result, but what exactly does it mean? Does it mean that humans carry a “debt gene”? And if you were to carry such a gene, does that mean you’re doomed to a life of financial turbulence and tribulation?

To begin to answer these questions, one must understand the complex relationship between genes and behavior. Unlike with physical characteristics (such as eye color), behavioral traits (such as violence or impulsivity) are tricky to identify and arise from a tremendously complex interplay of brain systems and environment.

The heritability of human behavior has been studied systematically since the 19th century. Traditionally, it’s been studied using twins and adoptees, to tell us how much of a trait is explainable purely by genetics, as opposed to environmental or other influences. And that approach has been extremely fruitful. Recent twin studies, for instance, have shown us that some surprising things have major genetic components: risk-taking, the tendency to cooperate, happiness levels, political preferences — even whether or not a person is likely to turn out to vote, donate to a political candidate, or run for office him or herself.

The rising availability of DNA analyses, however, is now making it possible for scientists to try to link specific genes to specific behaviors.

So, is there a “debt gene”?

“There will never, ever be such a thing as a ‘debt gene’,” says De Neve. But what humans likely have is “a set of genes whose expression, in combination with environmental factors, influences financial decision-making.”

The MAOA gene appears to be one of these genes.

http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-f...Gene/?cid=1228

Zippyjuan · 11-06-2009, 02:15 PM

I don't think it is a gene but it is based on your experince with money. If you have experienced scarcity, then you want to hold onto your money- like the post-depression era people. They passed this experience to some (but not necessarily all) of their children. Some reacted against this scarcity by not wanting to deprive their kids of anything- and they learned to buy lots of things.

RideTheDirt · 11-07-2009, 12:10 AM

Absolutely ridiculous.

BubbleBarn · 11-07-2009, 12:55 AM

Wow! I sure hope they make a pill for this soon!

Bman · 11-07-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BubbleBarn

Wow! I sure hope they make a pill for this soon!

They do.

They'll make sure we breed it out of existance.

Have debt? NO BABIES!!!

Austrian Econ Disciple · 11-07-2009, 04:08 AM

Psuedo-Scientists are always trying to come up with different ideas, ways, and false premises to abdicate our responsibility as human beings. I'm sure those people who find themselves unsuccessful will use this as an excuse instead of looking to their own mistakes. Choices, folks, choices.

SimpleName · 11-07-2009, 04:22 AM

I think its the "irresponsibility" gene they are talking about.

andrewh817 · 11-07-2009, 12:44 PM

How many of these so called genetic links will they make up??

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...tence-cut.html

Naraku · 11-07-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austrian Econ Disciple

Psuedo-Scientists are always trying to come up with different ideas, ways, and false premises to abdicate our responsibility as human beings.

Don't forget "to sell us pills" in there. I would not be surprised if these guys start looking for remedies so they can get big fat grants from Uncle Sam and the medical-industrial complex.

RideTheDirt · 11-08-2009, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewh817

How many of these so called genetic links will they make up??

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...tence-cut.html

How do these people make it past 5 years old? A gene that makes you violent?!?! being angry usually causes violence, not genes.

11-06-2009, 06:07 AM	#1
bobbyw24 Herr Auskunft Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 4,349	Do You Overspend? Blame It on Your Debt Gene Overspending: Blame It on Your Debt Gene? When you apply for a mortgage in 10 years, you may be asked for your bank statements, your pay stubs… and a cheek swab. At least that’s one possible implication of a new study, which reports a groundbreaking finding: that whether you carry a specific gene variant can predict your propensity to rack up credit-card debt. Specifically, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, of the London School of Economics, and James Fowler, of the University of California, San Diego, have found that if you carry one or both “low efficiency” alleles of the MAOA gene — we’ll get to what exactly the MAOA gene is and does in a minute — the likelihood that you have credit card debt increases by 8% and 16%, respectively. It’s a first-of-its-kind result, but what exactly does it mean? Does it mean that humans carry a “debt gene”? And if you were to carry such a gene, does that mean you’re doomed to a life of financial turbulence and tribulation? To begin to answer these questions, one must understand the complex relationship between genes and behavior. Unlike with physical characteristics (such as eye color), behavioral traits (such as violence or impulsivity) are tricky to identify and arise from a tremendously complex interplay of brain systems and environment. The heritability of human behavior has been studied systematically since the 19th century. Traditionally, it’s been studied using twins and adoptees, to tell us how much of a trait is explainable purely by genetics, as opposed to environmental or other influences. And that approach has been extremely fruitful. Recent twin studies, for instance, have shown us that some surprising things have major genetic components: risk-taking, the tendency to cooperate, happiness levels, political preferences — even whether or not a person is likely to turn out to vote, donate to a political candidate, or run for office him or herself. The rising availability of DNA analyses, however, is now making it possible for scientists to try to link specific genes to specific behaviors. So, is there a “debt gene”? “There will never, ever be such a thing as a ‘debt gene’,” says De Neve. But what humans likely have is “a set of genes whose expression, in combination with environmental factors, influences financial decision-making.” The MAOA gene appears to be one of these genes. http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-f...Gene/?cid=1228 __________________ Learn How to Buy Gold or Silver, click this link: buy gold

11-06-2009, 02:15 PM	#2
Zippyjuan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,202	I don't think it is a gene but it is based on your experince with money. If you have experienced scarcity, then you want to hold onto your money- like the post-depression era people. They passed this experience to some (but not necessarily all) of their children. Some reacted against this scarcity by not wanting to deprive their kids of anything- and they learned to buy lots of things. __________________ We need a New World Order. The present World Order is a mess.

11-07-2009, 04:08 AM	#6
Austrian Econ Disciple Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wisconsin - Resident of Florida Posts: 864	Psuedo-Scientists are always trying to come up with different ideas, ways, and false premises to abdicate our responsibility as human beings. I'm sure those people who find themselves unsuccessful will use this as an excuse instead of looking to their own mistakes. Choices, folks, choices. __________________ "The consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of the ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it." - Robert E. Lee, 1866 What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? - Thomas Jefferson www.mises.org www.medinafortexas.com www.draftronpaul.com

11-07-2009, 04:22 AM	#7
SimpleName Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,160	I think its the "irresponsibility" gene they are talking about. __________________ If Liberty Forest were a soda can, I'd slurp its contents Ron Paul is so smart, when rocket scientists can't figure things out, they proclaim "I'm not a libertarian-leaning Republican Congressman" I am Greg Gutfeld's biggest fan if by "biggest fan" you mean "man-lover"

11-07-2009, 12:44 PM	#8
andrewh817 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 327	How many of these so called genetic links will they make up?? http://www.newscientist.com/article/...tence-cut.html __________________ The things that matter in this country have been reduced in choice..... there are two political parties, there are a handful of insurance companies, six or seven information sources, BUT IF YOU WANT A BAGEL there are 23 flavors! ~George Carlin This account has been hijacked by several sovereign citizen extremist groups.

11-07-2009, 12:10 AM	#3
RideTheDirt Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,173	Absolutely ridiculous.

11-07-2009, 12:55 AM	#4
BubbleBarn Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7	Wow! I sure hope they make a pill for this soon!

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