The Contribution of Genetics and the Environment to Personality Development. Essay Example
The Contribution of Genetics and the Environment to Personality Development.
The Nature Vs Nurture debate has been an integral question that has influenced many divisions of psychology, including personality theory. Some theorists have focused on the side of genetic determinism, whilst others have placed a greater emphasis on the role of the environment, however the debate is in itself a false dichotomy. The existence of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, as well as adopted children has allowed psychologists a unique method of untangling the influences of genes and the environment on personality. The results of these studies indicate that the environment and genetics are not mutually exclusive factors in determining personality, their interaction is consequently what produces unique individuals.
Behavioural geneticists while striving to determine the genetic aspects of personality have ironically played a major role in helping to uncover environmental influences on personality. (Plomin, Ashbury, Dip & Dunn, 2001; Loehlin, 2010). The environment can be split into two distinct categories; shared and unshared. The shared environment consists of any mutual experiences that siblings have encountered which distinguish them from the general environment. This can include such factors as gross family income, relatives, and the home environment. Conversely the unshared environment is the differences that siblings from the same home experience, such as differential treatment from parents, distinctive friends and hobbies. (Maltby, Day & Macaskill, 2010). In contrast to socialization theorists who believe that the shared environment is what contributes to similarity in personality amongst siblings, behavioral geneticists have found that shared heritability is what influences similarities whilst the unshared environment is what encourages personality uniqueness. (Plomin et al., 2001)
The shared environment has been questioned as having little relevance
The Nature Vs Nurture debate has been an integral question that has influenced many divisions of psychology, including personality theory. Some theorists have focused on the side of genetic determinism, whilst others have placed a greater emphasis on the role of the environment, however the debate is in itself a false dichotomy. The existence of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, as well as adopted children has allowed psychologists a unique method of untangling the influences of genes and the environment on personality. The results of these studies indicate that the environment and genetics are not mutually exclusive factors in determining personality, their interaction is consequently what produces unique individuals.
Behavioural geneticists while striving to determine the genetic aspects of personality have ironically played a major role in helping to uncover environmental influences on personality. (Plomin, Ashbury, Dip & Dunn, 2001; Loehlin, 2010). The environment can be split into two distinct categories; shared and unshared. The shared environment consists of any mutual experiences that siblings have encountered which distinguish them from the general environment. This can include such factors as gross family income, relatives, and the home environment. Conversely the unshared environment is the differences that siblings from the same home experience, such as differential treatment from parents, distinctive friends and hobbies. (Maltby, Day & Macaskill, 2010). In contrast to socialization theorists who believe that the shared environment is what contributes to similarity in personality amongst siblings, behavioral geneticists have found that shared heritability is what influences similarities whilst the unshared environment is what encourages personality uniqueness. (Plomin et al., 2001)
The shared environment has been questioned as having little relevance