How Much Self-Control Do You Have? Your Genes Hold a Clue

Are you good at long-term planning? Can you stick with a goal, even if it’s a long, boring path to reach it?

Or are you someone who is more impulsive? Do you live in the moment, even if it may not be the best thing for you in the long run?

We all differ in our behavioral self-regulation, which is colloquially called self-control, or on the flip side, impulsivity. You’ve probably heard about the famous Marshmallow Test, conducted in the 1960s, in which researchers found that you could detect differences in self-control in young children (did they want the marshmallow now, or could they wait to get double the reward). Most interestingly, those differences in self-control were associated with a wide array of life outcomes as those children grew up, ranging from substance use to educational attainment. Our ability to delay gratification turns out to be important for a lot of things that we care about.

Now researchers have made another big step forward in understanding self-control.

In one of the largest studies ever conducted, an international team of scientists that I lead gathered data from nearly 1.5 million people, and identified hundreds of genes that influence self-regulation.

Using these findings, we created genetic scores that tally up how many of the locations across the genome associated with self-regulation an individual carries. These scores predict a wide range of important life outcomes. Individuals who carry a higher genetic predisposition toward self-control have lower rates of behavior problems in childhood, substance use, addiction, obesity, and HIV infection. They are more likely to complete college and to be employed. The genetic scores account for about 10 percent of the variability in outcomes related to self-control, an effect size similar to other important social factors like neighborhood disadvantage or family income levels. It’s one of the most powerful genetic predictors for any behavioral outcome to date.

These findings don’t mean that some people are bound to develop problems. DNA is not destiny. But they do show that our genes influence the way our brains are wired, which impacts our natural tendency toward self-control or impulsivity. How that tendency plays out can have far-reaching effects on all aspects of our lives.

But it’s important to remember that impulsivity, like all behavioral traits, isn’t necessarily good or bad. Being too impulsive can cause problems, but CEOs, entrepreneurs, and fighter pilots all tend to be higher on risk-taking. The key is understanding your natural tendency, so you can work to avoid potential challenges and capitalize on your unique strengths.