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44 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com But, science may have some astonishing answers as to how we may be able to leapfrog generations of predisposed under confidence to become the strong, vibrant, female leaders the world desperately needs. Science Says To examine the origin of personality, one must recognize the importance of genetics. "A lot of personality is biologically driven," says Dr. Jay Lombard, one of the founders of Genomind, a pioneering genetic testing company. e explosion of genetic study in the past few decades has fundamentally transformed our understanding of biology, thereby challenging some of Darwin's theories of evolution. e survival of the fittest theory still holds true. However, the study of genetics proves our "fitness" can be readily manipulated. Robert Pluomin, a renowned behavioral geneticist at Kings's College in London, studied 15,000 sets of twins over a 20-year period in hopes of unlocking the secrets of nature versus nurture. e studies showed that the children's self-perceived ability rating, or SPA, was a significant predictor of achievement—even more so than IQ. Pluomin's research also suggests that the link between genes and confidence may be as high as 50 percent, perhaps even more closely related than IQ. Not only do his findings support the importance of cultivating confidence in children, but also their parents. We pass along our own self- perception of ability in our actions, as well as in our genes. It is not good enough to teach your children to believe in themselves, you must also believe in yourself or you are likely to give little Johnny or Joannie a big dose of self doubt along with your blue eyes. e good news is that by building your own confidence, you may pass that along as well. Scientists at universities around the country are studying epigenetics, which studies how life experiences imprint our DNA, thereby changing the way genes behave. While certain traits such as eye color and height are fixed, character traits are more malleable. By studying identical twins, scientists are able to determine how genes are turned on or off through environment and experiences. Even more exciting is the discovery that those changes can be passed to offspring. is revolutionary concept challenges Darwin's theory that it takes multiple generations to see genetic change. Frances Champagne, a psychologist at Columbia, leads a team of researchers exploring the effects of prenatal events on children. Her research studies the effect of stress on women as well as men, and their future offspring. It was found that women who witnessed the 9/11 attacks passed on measurable levels of stress hormones to their babies. While we do not have definitive answers as to how extensively a mother's character traits will pass onto her children, it is certain that her life experience does play a part in the genetic equation. For more than forty years, neuropsychologist Steve Suomi of the National Institutes of Health has studied a colony of 300 rhesus monkeys that were transplanted from their original home in Sri Lanka to the countryside of Maryland in hopes of unlocking the complicated equation of nature versus nurture. Suomi's research has unlocked the role of maternal guidance and genetic dispositions. By shuffling genetically predisposed anxious or confident infant monkeys with mothers of varying nurturing abilities, he was able to see startling repercussions of parental influence and the role of genetics. Basically, monkeys born with resilient genes did fine with any mother, but monkeys who had the social anxiety gene grew to be anxious adults when raised by anxious or neglectful mothers. Not surprisingly, a great mother was able to transform a genetically predisposed anxious baby into a healthy adult, proving that with proper nurturing, a child could brake from a negative genetic predisposition. While these findings support generally accepted theories of parental influence, what Duomi found next were a radical discovery. As Katy Kay and Claire Shipman recounted in their book, e Confidence Code, "those so called 'genetically challenged' monkeys, when raised by great mothers, don't just turn out fine, they actually excel. ey thrive. ey become stronger, healthier, and more confident than their peers. ey become superstars, if they have a super mom." Suomi discovered that genetic dispositions for anxiety could make monkeys more sensitive to their environment. ey become sponges to their experiences, absorbing good or bad in more profound ways than others. Other studies in children with a genetic predisposition to ADHD showed that with proper parental interventions, the children showed exponential improvements over children with normal genes. Other studies of adults also support the theory that people Men VS Women Men on average estimate their value thirty percent higher than their actual ability, while women only apply for promotions when they are 100 percent certain of their qualifications. 30%L E100% BY THE NUMBERS

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