Personality, Values, Culture : An Evolutionary Approach

Using evolutionary psychology, Fischer develops a holistic model of personality that includes both what we do (our personality traits) and what motivates us (our values). This model is used to explain how and why people differ around the world and how genes, economics, social conditions, and climate jointly shape personality.

Humans are complex social beings. To understand human behaviour, an integrated perspective is required - one which considers both what we regularly do (our personality traits) and what motivates us (our values). Personality, Values, Culture uses an evolutionary perspective to look at the similarities and differences in personality and values across modern societies. Integrating research on personality and human values into a functional framework that highlights their underlying compatibilities (driven by shared genetic and brain mechanisms), Fischer describes how personality is shaped by the complex interplay between genes and the environment, both over the course of human evolution and within the lifespan of individuals. He proposes a gene-culture coevolution model of personality and values to explain how and why people differ around the world and how genes, economics, social conditions, and climate jointly shape personality.