C. Robert Cloninger: Mechanisms and conditions by which temperament, character, and personality development can regulate health and well-being

Dr. C. Robert Cloninger's contributions have been foundational in understanding temperament, personality, and their biological and genetic underpinnings. Cloninger explored how temperament, character, and personality traits are influenced by genetic factors and how they predict various psychological disorders, such as alcoholism and personality disorders. His prospective studies involving adoptees reared apart from their biological parents provided crucial insights into the heritability and development of personality traits independent of environmental influences. Moreover, Cloninger's pioneering work in conducting the first genome-wide association and linkage studies of normal personality traits laid the groundwork for subsequent research in psychiatry and behavioral genetics, linking specific genetic profiles to patterns of temperament and personality. He is also the creator of two extensively employed personality assessment instruments: the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Dr. Cloninger serves as Director of the Anthropedia Institute and Professor Emeritus at Washington University in St. Louis, where he studies the biopsychosocial foundations of personality that influence health and illness. The Anthropedia Institute is the research branch of the Anthropedia Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of human well-being through initiatives in health care and education. He served as Wallace Renard Professor of Psychiatry & Genetics, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and founding Director of the Sansone Center for Well-being at Washington University until July 2019. Dr. Cloninger is a member of the National Academy of Medicine USA, Fellow of the American Academy for Advancement of Science, and an editor of various journals in psychiatry, psychology, and genetics. We are pleased to share Dr. Cloninger's answers to the Genomic Press Interview.