A latest study suggests that a predisposition to procrastination may be significantly influenced by genetics. Researchers working with 71 pairs of adolescent twins used detailed brain scans from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine their development and then tracked their behavior over eight years.
The research, published in January in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, found that identical twins exhibited far more similar tendencies to procrastinate than fraternal twins. This suggests that genetic factors account for roughly 47 percent of the differences in procrastination levels among people.
The findings don’t point to a single “laziness gene,” but rather the cumulative impact of numerous genetic factors influencing brain development and the function of systems responsible for motivation. This research builds on previous work, including a 2014 study that estimated the heritability of procrastination at approximately 46 percent and linked it closely to impulsivity and self-control.
Procrastination Linked to Brain’s Reward System
According to the study’s authors, procrastination isn’t necessarily rooted in “laziness” as commonly understood, but rather in the functioning of the brain’s reward system. Key roles are played by brain regions associated with motivation, planning, and the anticipation of reward – processes tied to neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers between nerve cells.
Dopamine and serotonin are among the most essential of these, influencing feelings of motivation, satisfaction, and overall psychological well-being.
Lower sensitivity in these systems may translate to reduced satisfaction from completing tasks and a greater tendency to postpone them. These differences in brain structure and function, researchers say, begin to form during adolescence.
Genes Don’t Determine Destiny
The researchers emphasize that genetic predispositions don’t equate to a predetermined fate. Environmental factors – including upbringing, daily routines, stress levels, and learned approaches to responsibilities – similarly play a significant role.
This aligns with findings from a large-scale twin study published in 2014, which also estimated the heritability of procrastination at around 46 percent and demonstrated a strong connection between procrastination, impulsivity, and self-control.
In other words, the ability to resist immediate temptation and direct behavior toward long-term goals is also a result of a combination of biological influences and environmental factors.
Strategies for Managing Procrastination
Understanding the biological underpinnings of procrastination can help shift the approach to managing it. Experts suggest that the solution isn’t to fight “willpower,” but to work with how the brain functions. Breaking tasks into smaller steps, working in shorter time blocks, and rewarding oneself after completing portions of a task can be effective. This research suggests procrastination isn’t necessarily a sign of personal failure, but rather a result of a combination of biological predispositions and environmental influences – and can therefore be consciously addressed.
