Emotional intelligence, empathy, extraversion, alexithymia, environmentally responsible behavior in students-carriers of different MAOA, COMT gene genotypes

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the association of genotypes of genes of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) with emotional intelligence and personality traits of young people, such as extraversion-introversion, empathy, and alexithymia. The work was attended by students-psychologists, in the amount of 100 people. The following methods were used: Test of emotional intelligence (D.V. Lyusin); Emotional Empathy Questionnaire (A. Mehrabian, N. Epstein); «Big five» test; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. For statistical processing of the results obtained, we used multivariate analysis of variance ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis for non-equilibrium sample sizes. As a result, it was found that the genes of the monoaminergic system COMT and MAOA are associated with the general level of emotional intelligence. Women, in general, showed a lower level of emotional intelligence. The Met/Met genotype of the COMT gene is associated with a higher level of emotional intelligence and high extraversion. The Val/Met genotype of the COMT gene in women is associated with low emotional intelligence and low empathy. The Val/Val genotype of the COMT gene in men is associated with extraversion. In the work, no associations were found between the genotypes of the MAOA, COMT genes, and the level of alexithymia.