Twin Studies

Twin studies have been very useful in giving us information about whether our genes or our environment make us who we are. A surprising result is the way that genes influence our work. At a basic level, our genes affect how we look, and so they influence whether we can become a basketball player or a supermodel, for example. However, there is evidence that genes influence our job choices in much greater ways. Research shows that identical twins choose more similar jobs than non-identical twins. In fact, identical twins who have grown up apart choose more similar jobs than non-identical twins who have grown up together. Studies that also show that identical twins suggest that our genes affect both the satisfaction that comes from doing a job and the satisfaction that comes from working conditions, such as a person's pay or their manager. So what does this mean? It means that from birth, you are more likely to prefer one occupation to another and find certain jobs more satisfying than others. However, genes are not the only factor. Other things in your life, such as family background and education, will also be influential in your career choices.