Are Habits Hereditary?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The question of whether habits are hereditary is complex and multifaceted. While there is substantial evidence suggesting a genetic component to certain habitual behaviors, environmental factors and individual experiences also play a crucial role. Ongoing research continues to unravel the intricate relationship between genetics and habits, offering new insights into how our behaviors are shaped and passed down through generations.

The question of whether habits are hereditary has intrigued scientists for decades. While some argue that habits can be passed down from one generation to the next, others believe that habits are primarily shaped by environmental factors. This article explores the current understanding of the heritability of habits, drawing on various research studies to provide a comprehensive overview.

Genetic Basis of Habitual Behavior

Recent studies have provided substantial evidence that certain habitual behaviors have a genetic component. For instance, a genome-wide association study involving over 377,000 participants identified multiple genetic variants associated with habitual physical activity (PA). Notably, variants in the CADM2 and APOE genes were found to be significantly associated with PA, suggesting a genetic predisposition to certain levels of physical activity2. This study highlights the complex interplay between genetics and habitual behaviors, indicating that some habits may indeed be inherited.

Twin Studies and Habit Concordance

Twin studies have long been a valuable tool in understanding the heritability of habits. Research has shown greater concordance in smoking habits among monozygotic (MZ) twins compared to dizygotic (DZ) twins. For example, studies by Sir Ronald Fisher and others found higher concordance rates for smoking habits in MZ twins, regardless of whether they were raised together or apart3. Similar results were observed for alcohol consumption, further supporting the notion that certain habits may have a genetic basis3.

Historical Perspectives on Habit Inheritance

The debate over the inheritance of acquired habits dates back to the 19th century. Charles Darwin’s theory of Pangenesis proposed that acquired characteristics could be inherited, a view that was later challenged by August Weismann’s germplasm theory10. Despite these historical controversies, modern research has provided evidence supporting the inheritance of acquired habits through mechanisms such as DNA methylation and RNA-mediated inheritance10.

Experimental Evidence

Experimental studies have also contributed to our understanding of habit inheritance. For example, research conducted at the Zoological Laboratory of the Imperial College of Science investigated the heritability of acquired habits in animals. These experiments aimed to determine whether habits acquired by parents could be passed on to their offspring, with some studies suggesting that this might be the case5.

Lifestyle Habits and Genetic Testing

In the context of hereditary conditions, lifestyle habits can also play a significant role. A survey of patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) revealed that certain lifestyle habits, such as alcohol consumption and red meat intake, were common among these individuals. The study also highlighted the importance of genetic counseling and the use of direct-to-consumer genetic testing in managing hereditary conditions9.

Are habits hereditary?

Benjamin Gardner has answered Uncertain

An expert from King’s College London in Psychology, Behavioural Science

It depends on what you define as a ‘habit’.

To the psychologist, habitual behaviours are action episodes that are triggered automatically when we encounter situations in which we have repeatedly done the action in the past, due to the activation of learned situation-action responses. (For example, we may experience an urge, driven by habit, to eat popcorn when we go to the movie theatre, because we have learned, through repeatedly eating popcorn in the movie theatre, to associate popcorn with the movie theatre.) According to this definition, we learn habits through experience, and so habits cannot be hereditary.

If, on the other hand, you define a ‘habit’ as something that you do repeatedly, then some habits may indeed be hereditary. But personally, I see that as a broader question about whether our *behaviour* is something that is hereditary or not, rather than whether our *habits* are hereditary.