Childhood disadvantage can block the benefits of genetic potential, study finds

New research from the University of Bath's School of Management shows that a genetic predisposition for success can be derailed by childhood adversity, shifting focus from long-term goals to immediate survival, creating hidden barriers to social mobility. The study, published in Communications Psychology, finds that genes associated with educational attainment influence how people weigh risks and wait for payoffs—but the direction of these effects is shaped by childhood circumstances.