I think people’s personalities are significantly predictable from their genes, and mostly independent of how their parents raised them (at least within the typical distribution, i.e. leaving aside cases of flagrant abuse and neglect etc.). See e.g. popular expositions of this theory by Judith Harris or by Bryan Caplan for the fine print and massive body of supporting evidence (e.g. twin studies and adoption studies). Antisocial personality disorder / sociopathy follows the usual pattern like everything else—it’s substantially predictable based on genes, almost entirely independent of how your parents raise you and other aspects of childhood family environment.
I’m not sure what you mean by “competence”. Mean people and cruel people and high-functioning sociopaths can be very highly “competent” according to how I use that word day-to-day. William Shockley was a brilliant physicist who started a successful company—while also being awful to everyone, vindictive, and a notorious racist. Heck, Hitler himself was extraordinarily charismatic and exquisitely skilled at social manipulation, AFAICT. He achieved one wildly ambitious goal after another. I think I would describe him as a “highly competent” guy.
Thanks!
I think people’s personalities are significantly predictable from their genes, and mostly independent of how their parents raised them (at least within the typical distribution, i.e. leaving aside cases of flagrant abuse and neglect etc.). See e.g. popular expositions of this theory by Judith Harris or by Bryan Caplan for the fine print and massive body of supporting evidence (e.g. twin studies and adoption studies). Antisocial personality disorder / sociopathy follows the usual pattern like everything else—it’s substantially predictable based on genes, almost entirely independent of how your parents raise you and other aspects of childhood family environment.
I’m not sure what you mean by “competence”. Mean people and cruel people and high-functioning sociopaths can be very highly “competent” according to how I use that word day-to-day. William Shockley was a brilliant physicist who started a successful company—while also being awful to everyone, vindictive, and a notorious racist. Heck, Hitler himself was extraordinarily charismatic and exquisitely skilled at social manipulation, AFAICT. He achieved one wildly ambitious goal after another. I think I would describe him as a “highly competent” guy.