This is not by an means a unique finding. Ronald Inglehart, at the University of Michigan,
had samples from 24 countries rate their “life satisfaction” on an 1 l-point scale. All 24 average
national ratings were above the midpoint and the median of the 24 mean ratings was about 8.25
which equals the 75% point on the “satisfaction” scale. The mean score on our well-being scale
achieved by more than 2,000 parents of adolescent twins in our Twin-Family study was equal to
76% of the maximum possible score. We get virtually identical results with more than 4,000
middle-aged Registry twins. Most people are reasonably satisfied, contented, happy, most of the
time, irrespective of socioeconomic status, of race, or gender, or country of residence. Maybe
that is why we tend to complain so loudly whenever things do go wrong for us.
But I do not believe that the high heritability of the happiness set-point indicates that our
average subjective well-being is determined just by the level of some neurotransmitter that was
set, once-and-for-all, by the genetic lottery at birth. One thing I think we know for sure is that
the principal way in which the genes affect the mind is indirectly, by influencing the kinds of
experiences we have beginning in the nursery and, especially, by influencing the kinds of
environments we seek out and the sorts of things we do. If we let our personal genetic steersman
have his way, then we shall indeed tend to follow a course laid down for us in our DNA. But, if
the proximal cause of our psychological individuality is largely experiential, just as the radical
environmentalists have always contended---if much of what is inherited consists of behavior
tendencies that can be resisted, modified, and shaped---then there is a real possibility for
intervention, for countermanding the genetic steersman.
Many people have genetic tendencies that tend to interfere with subjective well-being---
impulsiveness, fearfulness, and irritability are three examples. These tendencies can be to some
extent resisted or changed. Many people have genetic tendencies that conduce toward subjective
well-being---sociability, self-discipline, and the tendency to cultivate and exercise skills are
examples. The rest of us can seek to emulate those same tendencies.
Our species is the only one that develops language, and a pro-active conscience, and that gets
satisfaction out of making things, from cave paintings to business mergers, from trying new
recipes to writing sonnets. That is, we seem to be the only species that is able to enjoy
cultivating and exercising a variety of skills. (The border collie loves to herd things and will
herd ducks or your children or you if no sheep are available, but he’s a one-talent animal.) I