A new study claims naughty schoolchildren may have what’s been called the “CEO gene” which makes them more likely to head up a major company in the future.
Scientists say that a particular gene sequence associated with “mild” rule breaking in children is the same one that leads to leadership qualities found in successful ambitious chief executives. However, it depends on a child’s home environment, because bad behavior in the classroom can also lead to a withdrawn personality that’s not good for business, the study warns.
Psychologists from Kansas State University analyzed health data covering 13,000 adults and discovered the influence of DAT1, which transports the chemical dopamine to the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter(神经递质) that helps control the brain’s responses to reward and pleasure. They found that in children, DAT1 leads to “mild” bad behavior such as playing truant, but not serious bad behavior such as violent crime. However, they also discovered it provides positive leadership qualities in adults who often went on to become the heads of companies or lead divisions within a company.
Psychological sciences assistant professor, Wendong Li, explained: “Mild rule-breaking is actually positively offering you the chance of becoming leader in adulthood. These kinds of behaviors can provide you with an advantage because they allow adolescents to explore boundaries and learn something new.” But the gene sequence can also lead to irregular, non-consistent and sometimes selfish behavior which is not good for leadership. “People with DAT1 were less likely to regulate their own behaviors to make a positive change,” Professor Li added.
Different outcomes may be influenced by the environment children grow up in, at home and at school, according to the study. “It’s like a mixed blessing - this gene can have both positive and negative effects on leadership. If the naughty children have supportive parents and the ability to work with others, then they are more likely to go on to become leaders.”
本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写,禁止复制和任何商业用途,版权所有,侵权必究!