Genetic factors and environmental factors determines personality - Essay Example

? Gene-Environment Interaction Determines Personality Essay Introduction One of themost controversial and longest running debates in the history of Western thought focuses on the influence of genes and environmental factors on personality or individual differences. Interestingly, the earlier set of behavioral genetic studies has convinced many that both genetic and environmental factors influence personality development (Ryckman, 2013). This essay tries to prove that the combination of genetic and environmental factors influence personality development. Human behavioral genetics tries to observe, understand, and explain both the genetic and environmental aspects of personality. The assumption that there is no interaction between genetic and environmental factors prevents an accurate knowledge of the intricate biological mechanisms through which individual differences are attained. The fact that the gene-environment interaction is an important part of personality development is becoming a key subject matter in longitudinal research and laboratory studies (Ryckman, 2013). Nevertheless, understanding the nature of this gene-environment interaction is only one of the steps in expanding the theoretical model of personality development. Current research merges molecular biology and behavioral science that may provide explanation of such topics and possibly even challenge existing knowledge about processes of trait transmission. Summary and Evaluation of the Arguments Personality is defined as the “unique collection of attitudes, emotions, thoughts, habits, impulses, and behaviors that define how a person typically behaves across situations” (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo, 2011, 568). Trait theorists, such as Gordon Allport and Hans Eysenck, explain how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence the development of personality traits. Gordon Allport was the first to create a paradigm to explain personality in terms of traits. His trait theory spurred the debate whether personality is idiographic or nomothetic. The idiographic perspective is focused on the assumption that every individual is unique. The development of personality is viewed as a persistent process of change. This perspective argues that people respond differently to environmental forces (Loehlin, 1992). Hence, the interplay between the cultural and social environment and the self has a major influence on the development of personality. On the other hand, the nomothetic perspective is based on the predisposition to view an individual’s personality as hereditary and unchangeable, while the influence of environmental factors is negligible. Allport (1955) emphasizes that personality is ‘psychophysical’, which implies that the development of personality is influenced by psychological and physical aspects, as well as genetic and environmental factors. Likewise, Eysenck (1967) promoted a biosocial model of personality, underlining genetic and biological aspects as well as environmental and cultural and social factors. His ‘supertraits’—neuroticism, introversion, and extraversion-- are naturally biological and influenced mainly by genetic factors. They are the outcome of evolutionary mechanisms (Ryckman, 2013). In the same way, studies in behavioral genetics have taken into consideration the influence of genes on the environment. Parenting behavior could have a genetic effect, with regard to those personality traits of the parents which are influenced by genes. Furthermore, current studies show that parenting behavior could be affected by genetic aspects of the personality of the child (John et al., 2010). Plomin and colleagues discovered that adoptive parents displayed more responsiveness to their adopted children whose biological parents were highly impulsive and active. It is hence likely that a child who is genetically predisposed to impulsivity and activity compelled their adoptive parents to be more receptive to his/her needs (John et al., 2010). Hence, the interaction between genetic and environmental factors could be an even more complicated relationship than was believed earlier. Individuals exist in a particular environment and they carry their distinctive mix of genetic tendencies to that environment. Even in instances where there is an intense genetic tendency toward a trait, it is usually possible to control the environment in order to change it. For instance, with regard to Phenylketonuria (PKU), even though the cause of the illness is genetic, it can be prevented in children merely by taking out phenylalanine from their foods (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo, 2011). Furthermore, an individual’s response to his/her environment is affected by his/her genetic composition, which implies that a particular environment will not exert the same influence on different people. Genetic epidemiologists often discover that particular disorders are found in a family, but that the disorders may or may not be inherited by individual members of the family. Rather, they acquire susceptibility to environmental forces. People could be differently influenced by the same environmental factors in health-related ways (Loehlin, 1992). For instance, fair-skinned people are more vulnerable to skin cancer due to exposure to sunlight than people with darker complexion (John et al., 2010). In another case, it was discovered that different environmental factors alter the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease, such as physical exercise and diet. Comorbidities, like depression, may also be greatly significant, for these have been found to heighten the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease (John et al., 2010). Current findings show that greater emphasis should be given on the influence of environmental factors and its relationship with basic genetic vulnerability in activating disorder-related phenotypes (Ryckman, 2013). The development of personality is influenced by diverse factors: self-concepts, cognitions, heredity, and the environment. An increasing number of findings substantiate the crucial role that genes play in the development of personality traits, including traits like the Big Five—neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness (Ryckman, 2013). But researchers nowadays identify interplay between the environment and biology. Genes produce a ‘tendency’ or ‘probability’ for specific personality traits to emerge. Whether such personality traits do develop relies on the combination of environmental (e.g. learning experiences) and genetic factors. Childhood experiences can also influence the development of the brain, which consequently influences the development of later personality traits. Figuring out the comparative impact and interplay of genetic and environmental factors is still a key challenge. Some traits remain constant, but situational aspects also affect the stability of traits. Conclusions Genetic processes elicit reactions to the environment but environmental factors also stimulate modifications or changes in genetic functioning. Environmental factors play a major role in the way genetic attributes are expressed. It is evident that both influence how an individual’s personality develops all together. The works of trait theorists, such as Gordon Allport and Hans Eysenck, prove that both genetic and environmental factors influence personality development. References Allport, G.W. (1955). Becoming: Basic considerations for a psychology of personality. New Haven: Yale University Press. Eysenck, H. (1967). The biological basis of personality. New York: Transaction. John, O., Robinson, R., & Pervin, L. (2010). Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research. New York: Guilford Press. Loehlin, J. (1992). Genes and environment in personality development. London: Sage Publications. Pastorino, E. & Doyle-Portillo, S. (2011). What is Psychology? Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Ryckman, R.M. (2013). Theories of Personality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Read More