Personality Development example #37021

heredity

People born first or last in a family have a different perspective than people born in the middle. Research has indicated that firstborn children are more likely to be achievement-oriented and responsible than later-born children. Later-born children on the other hand, tend to be better in social relationships and to be more affectionate and friendly. Other studies suggest that first-borns are conservative in their thinking and are defenders of the status quo. Later-borns, in contrast, are often risk-takers and social and educational rebels.

feral children

Cultural environment determines the basic types of personalities that will be found in society. Each culture gives rise to a series of personality traits. For example, in the United States, competitiveness, assertiveness, and individualism are common personality traits. How we experience our culture also influences our personalities, for example whether we are born male or female, as the two are treated differently from the moment of birth. The region of the country or the type of neighborhood in which an individual is raised also affects personality.

Heredity is the transmission of genetic characteristics from parents to children. Examples of characteristics of heredity are body build, hair type, eye color, and skin pigmentation. It can also include certain aptitudes.

instinct

aptitude

Personality is the sum total of behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and values that are characteristic of an individual. Personality traits determine how we adjust to our environment and how we react in specific situations. Personalities continue to develop throughout our lifetime; however, this is more obvious during childhood. Once people reach adulthood, personality traits change at a slower rate.

personality

The nature viewpoint believes much of human behavior is instinctual in origin, and carried through heredity which is based on genetics. Behavior is passed along to children from their parents. Proponents of the nature viewpoint claim that instinctual drives were responsible for practically everything, even the creation of society itself. Because it is instinctual, it is an unchanging, biologically inherited behavior pattern.. The nurture viewpoint is that a person's behavior and personality are the result of his or her social environment and learning. Ivan Pavlov helped this viewpoint gain acceptance with the experiment teaching the dog to respond to a bell. Despite the differences, most social scientists believe that personality and social behavior result from a blending of heredity and social environmental influences.

b

d

c

true

false

d

b

a

true

true