Are They Happy Because They’re Successful, or Successful Because They’re Happy?
According to the University of Warwick, a nation’s typical happiness or unhappiness is actually written into the genes of its people.
The researchers also found that while Danes top the happiness charts, the closer a nation’s genetic makeup is to Denmark’s, the more likely its people are to be happy. Nations with very different genes tend to rank lower on the happiness scale.
The new study suggests Danes consistently rank high in happiness because their genes include a special gene that influences the brain, promoting a general positive mood and happiness.
Compared to other nations, Danes are less likely to carry the gene linked to feelings of dissatisfaction.
Dr. Eugenio Proto, an economist, shared that the findings surprised even them, especially since they uncovered other interesting links:
The further a nation’s genetics are from Denmark’s, the more likely it is to have a lower standard of living.
This raises the question: are Danes happy because they enjoy a higher standard of living, or is their standard of living higher because they’re happy and approach challenges with a positive mindset?
The researchers also examined a gene mutation linked to depression across the nations studied, finding its occurrence is lowest in Denmark and the Netherlands.
Is Happiness Inherited?
In the final phase, scientists explored whether the tendency toward happiness and success passes down through generations.
To find out if these genes stay active across the ocean, they collected DNA samples from Americans known for their high quality of life.
Then, by analyzing the DNA, they traced where these successful Americans’ ancestors might have come from.
The results showed that the propensity for happiness remains in Americans whose ancestors came from Denmark or countries with similar genetic backgrounds—even after generations away from their homeland.
While the scientists caution against drawing sweeping conclusions just yet, they believe future economic and sociological studies may need to factor in genetic traits when interpreting results.
