Personality Development

Running head: PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 1

Student Name

Institution Affiliation

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 2

Personality Development

Genes play a significant role in personality development. Even though there is a

general consensus on the influence of genetic factors on personality traits, the findings are

inconclusive and sketchy in explaining why. Documented literature shows that twins who

have been raised separately show personality traits similar to those of their parents.

Similarly, it has been found that adopted children exhibit personality traits resembling

those of the parents to whom they were born. In as much as researchers agree that

biological factors influence personality development, there is a general consensus that

environmental influence impacts on one’s personality.

To demonstrate the impact of environment on personality, Langstrom et al. (2010)

examined personality development of twins and adopted children. The study found a

correlation of 0.6 in the personality traits of identical twins raised together. Clearly, this

demonstrates that biological factors influence personality traits when environmental factors

are controlled. The results also revealed that the heritability of the big five personality trait

dimensions ranged between 40% and 50%. Concerning identical twins that were raised

apart, the results showed that genetic factors have a greater influence on personality

development than environmental ones.

It also found out that the identical twins who were raised apart had similar

personality traits (r = 0.72). The identical twins were found to be more similar in their

personality characteristics than fraternal twins (r = 0.27). It is evident that there were no

perfect correlations (r = 1) because of the influence of environmental factors. Chess &

Thomas (1997) asserted that environment contributes to personality traits. Environmental

influence on personality decreases as one becomes old. The findings imply that there is

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 3

little that can be done to influence or change inherited unfavorable personality traits. On

the other hand, the big five personality model offers an explanation of personality traits

due to environmental influence. Therefore, to explain, control and predict personality

behaviors the context has to be considered.

Chess & Thomas (1997) suggests that culture is shaped by the environment. In the

research, they have shown that the environment in which one thrives is associated with

personality expression. However, a generalization of this argument has to be done with

caution since cultures are context specific and little has been done across many cultures in

the world. Specifically, the big five personality traits have been found to be expressed

differently depending on culture (Chess & Thomas, 1997). Psychologists argue that

patterns of personality traits are created by cultural contexts that give individuals

opportunities to shape their thinking, emotions, value systems, and norms. Studies done

show that culture has an influence on personality status.

Personality status refers to the expression of personality that is in tandem with

cultural expectations. Expression of personality traits, for example, manifesting acceptable

behaviors is given meaning by the way people are socialized. A boy child, who has been

raised in a culture that believes men are not supposed to cry even when they are in pain,

will endeavor not shade tears in moments of adversities. Given an opportunity, the boy can

cry but because of cultural influence, a manifestation of such personality traits is

suppressed. Researchers have also shown that in the absence of personality status, culture

can be shaped by people’s personality. For example in the western cultures, women are

outspoken and career focused. The issue has changed the culture and the perception

towards women that used to be there in Western countries and across the world. Today

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 4

women are able to do as much as what men can do including being heads of states which

was a no-go zone for women. However, in some countries in the world women are still

struggling with cultures that regard them as inferior when it comes to some social and

economic aspects.

Galton’s study (1875) involving twins have remained very instrumental in the study

of the influence of genetics and environment on personality traits. Even though some

researchers have remained skeptical about the assumptions of the twin study, it is still the

most popular approach used in exploring personality development. The study examined the

development and expression of personality traits of identical and fraternal twins who were

raised together and those who were raised apart. The results showed that heritability of

personality traits was 40-50%. Besides, identical twins brought up in different

environments showed similar personality traits of about 45% while fraternal ones exhibited

27% similarity. Thus, identical twins have more similar personality traits than fraternal

twins regardless of whether they are raised in the same area or not. The implication of the

findings is that identical twins when raised in different environments show similar

personality traits to a larger extent than fraternal twins. Informed by the findings, genetic

factors influence the development of personality traits. These findings have been

corroborated by subsequent studies (Guerin et al. 2003).

There is a plethora of research on characteristics of temperament which have shown

that personality traits remain remarkably stable throughout life. There is a general

consensus that some characteristics of temperament vary across ages and from time to time

while others considerably remain unchanged. Psychologists have argued that even though

some temperament characteristics remain stable, situations have a greater influence on how

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 5

people behave than personality. Chess & Thomas (1997) demonstrated the stability of

temperate traits in his longitudinal study in New York. The researcher suggested that the

characteristics were not just a reflection of environmental underpinnings in personality

development but were based on internal factors. Temperament characteristics such as

sensitivity, adaptability, persistence, predictability, and regularity have been reported to be

remarkably stable in longitudinal studies. The stability of the temperament characteristics

varies considerably from one month to another and six months up to two years. Stability

gradually increases with age. Guerin et al. (2003) found a moderate degree of stability

among participants who were studied from age one to seventeen years.

Understanding of stability of temperament characteristics in the study of

personality still remains unclear because research findings are disjointed, inconclusive and

the issue of external validity raises concern among psychologists. Twin studies have

demonstrated the influence of heredity on the development of temperament with identical

twins showing greater similarity than fraternal twins. Guerin et al. (2003) opine that

temperament characteristics are genetically determined; there is evidence that environment

and culture also have an influence. Therefore, approaches to the study of temperament

characteristics have to take an eclectic view implicitly and explicitly to come up with

generally acceptable models that are more comprehensive.

Assessment reports of temperament characteristics have revealed that when people

are tested in studies and then retested, their traits remain reasonably stable over time. The

stability gradually increases with increase in the number of years. The stability has been

found to be based on genes, environment and culture. Contradictory findings report that

stability of temperament characteristics relies more on the situation than being influenced

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 6

by the genes, environment and culture. Researchers have also established that temperament

characteristics are dynamic. The changes from situation to situation and over time have

been attributed to environmental factors and maturational processes. The changes are

occasioned by responses to meet personality needs as outlined in the temperament model

of personality.

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 7

References

Chess, S. & Thomas, A. (1997). Temperament theory and practice. New York:

Brunner/Mazel.

Galton, F. (1875). English men of science: Their nature and nurture. D. Appleton.

Guerin, D. W., Gottfried, A. W., Oliver, P. H., & Thomas, C. W. (2003). Temperament:

Infancy through Adolescence. The Fullerton Longitudinal Study. Boston, MA:

Springer US.

Långström, N., Rahman, Q., Carlström, E., & Lichtenstein, P. (2010). Genetic and

environmental effects on same-sex sexual behavior: A population study of twins in

Sweden. Archives of sexual behavior, 39(1), 75-80.

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."