Can your genetics determine whether you get shot, assaulted or raped?
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“…exposure to assaultive trauma, such as being the victim of a mugging, or sexual assault, had a heritability of 20 percent… Genes that contribute to risk-taking, seeking out new experiences, and even antisocial traits may increase the chance that you’ll find yourself in situations where trouble happens.”
For some of us, our genes may contribute to anxiety problems by actually increasing the chance that we’ll be exposed to dangerous situations. One twin study of Vietnam veterans found a heritability of 35 to 47 percent for exposure to combat-related trauma— that is, the likelihood that a soldier would find himself in harm’s way was itself influenced by genes. Another study of civilians found that exposure to assaultive trauma, such as being the victim of a mugging, or sexual assault, had a heritability of 20 percent. How could a person’s genes affect whether she would be in the wrong place at the wrong time? The most likely answer is again related to temperament and personality. Genes that contribute to risk-taking, seeking out new experiences, and even antisocial traits may increase the chance that you’ll find yourself in situations where trouble happens.
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