Approximately what proportion of happiness is genetic according to the material?

• A. 40%
• B. 60%
• C. 80%
• D. 20%

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that happiness has a substantial genetic component, but it’s not determined by genes alone. The material places the genetic contribution to happiness around sixty percent, meaning about six-tenths of the variation in happiness between individuals in a population is due to genetic differences. The remaining roughly forty percent comes from environmental influences, life experiences, and measurement factors. This reflects what twin-studies and related research have found: genetics largely shapes individual differences in happiness, while environment still plays a meaningful, nontrivial role.

So the best answer aligns with roughly sixty percent genetic influence. An eighty percent figure would leave little room for environment and isn’t supported here; twenty percent underestimates the genetic contribution; forty percent is lower than what the material indicates.