Integrating Epigenetics and Genomic Psychology to Explain the Development and Maintenance of Complex Mental States

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of genomic psychology and epigenetics in shaping complex mental states. Genomic approaches illuminate the role of genetic variation in individual differences and the stability of psychobiological traits, while epigenetic mechanisms mediate environmentally induced modifications without altering DNA sequences. Evidence indicates that epigenetic processes influence neural circuit formation, synaptic plasticity, and personality traits, bridging environmental inputs and behavioral outcomes. Genomic psychology provides a framework to integrate genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, elucidating developmental trajectories, resilience, and vulnerability in mental states. By combining insights from epigenetic regulation and genomic variation, this approach clarifies the formation, maintenance, and variability of psychological characteristics across the lifespan, highlighting the dynamic interplay between biology and experience in mental-state development.