Personality development essay PDF

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Essay on how personality develops over time and whether its genetically caused or caused by the environment ...

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The genetic and environmental influences on personality development over time Isaac White Student Number: 6069848 University of Wollongong

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The genetic and environmental influences on personality development over time Personality is a key make up of who we are as people. It can be defined as one’s constant, reoccurring patterns of thoughts, motivation, feeling and behaviour that is often displayed [ CITATION Bur15 \l 1033 ]. This essay is looking at whether personality is something that remains stable over the course of one’s life or rather something that develops and adapts over time. It will also cover the impact that both genetics and environment can have on personality. Genetics is the encoded biological makeup that is hereditarily transmitted. This genetic makeup has an incredible impact on personality, mental illness and intelligence [ CITATION Van03 \l 1033 ]. Environment is the things that people surround themselves with that influence them. These influences can include family, culture and socioeconomic status [ CITATION Hua01 \l 1033 ]. Personality is made up of both genetic makeup and the environmental influences surrounding the person. This can develop and change over time as the person grows.

Background Theory and Research Personality is made up of both genetic makeup and the environmental influences surrounding the person. This can develop and change over time as the person grows. There has been significant research in personality development over time, the main contributors being Sigmund Freud and Gordon Allport who developed psychodynamic theory and trait theory respectively.

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Allport. Allport looked to put all personality traits into three categories. These include: cardinal traits, these are particular dominating traits that can become easily recognisable with someone, central traits, these can be general traits that help to make up the basics of one’s personality and finally secondary traits, which are more associated with one’s attitudes and preferences [ CITATION Wei18 \l 1033 ]. When psychologists study personality they usually look at two main areas; the structure of personality and individual differences in dimensions of personality [ CITATION Bur15 \l 1033 ]. Freud. Freud developed the first complete theory surrounding personality. Freud developed his theories to try and explain phenomena that he was seeing while doing clinical work. While continuing his psychodynamic approach Freud developed three models to explain personality. Topographic Model. The first of these models is the topographic model. This model placed mental processes into one of three categories, conscious, preconscious and unconscious. Freud described conscious mental processes as the thoughts and feelings that are goal directed and rational. Preconscious mental processes are not at that moment conscious but in the future could become conscious. Finally, unconscious mental processes are considered the ones that are unreachable because they are so irrational that they have been locked away [ CITATION Bor13 \l 1033 ]

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Drive Model. The second of Freud’s models is the drive model which focused on what can motivate people. It can deal with the conflict between conscious and unconscious motives. Freud proposed that humans have two primitive motives: sex and aggression. The sex motive is anything that can be seen as pleasure seeking, not just desire for sexual intercourse. Aggression was seen by Freud as a reaction to human’s fear of death. This is commonly seen in competitive sport and business. [ CITATION Bor13 \l 1033 ] Developmental Model. The third of Freud’s models is the developmental model. The developmental model was based around the theory of psychosexual stages. In each of these stages the personality, sexuality and motivation were said to change. The five stages included the oral stage (0-18 months), the anal stage (2-3 years), the phallic stage (4-6 years), the latency stage (7-11 years) and finally the genital stage (12+ years) [ CITATION Bur15 \l 1033 ]. Each of these stages represent a time in life where immense change in both bodily experiences and psychological experiences. [ CITATION Bor13 \l 1033 ] Structural Model. The last of Freud’s models is the structural model. This model was used to display the clash between what we want and what we believe to be possible. He theorised that our inner desire conflicts with ego and ends with a compromise in action. According to Freud it is made up of the id, the ego and the superego, all three of these together makeup personalities. The id is entirely unconscious and is present from birth to death, with very primitive and instinctive desires and behaviours. The id is always after pleasure and satisfaction. The id creates tension when looking for this satisfaction, for example crying when a baby is hungry. The ego is what balances desire, real life and what is right. The ego displays desires of the id in a form that is acceptable in reality. Metaphorically the id is the car and the ego is the car’s driver. The final component is the superego, which includes our internal moral rules and

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ethical guidelines. It holds back all the undesirable desires of the id and tries to encourage the ego to meet the social standards. How Personality can Develop Over Time Personality is made up of both genetic makeup and the environmental influences surrounding the person. This can develop and change over time as the person grows. Very rarely do one’s personality traits remain stable over their life time. The secondary traits are the traits that are more likely to change over time as the cardinal traits are the core traits that can be seen to define someone and usually develop later in life, for example narcissistic. One simple example of a secondary trait is nerves when publicly speaking. The person may work to improve their public speaking skills and lose that as a trait and gain confidence when speaking in public as a trait. Genetics and environment are the two most significant influencers on the personality of someone. They can help certain traits to blossom or completely deny others from ever existing in someone [ CITATION Cos06 \l 1033 ]. Genetic Effect Personality is made up of both genetic makeup and the environmental influences surrounding the person. This can develop and change over time as the person grows. There has always been evidence of there being a heritable part included in one’s personality. Twin studies are often used to observe the genetical impact on personality as twins have the same genetic makeup. Twin studies compare monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. MZ twins have the same genetic makeup where-as DZ twins only have around 50% of similar genetics. A study suggested that genetic factors do play a significant role in the stability of one’s personality over their lifetime [ CITATION Plo94 \l 1033 ]. The data from this study suggests that genetics do

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have a crucial impact on personality but cannot explain the means by which genetics have this impact. [ CITATION Bri15 \l 1033 ] Environmental Influence Personality is made up of both genetic makeup and the environmental influences surrounding the person. This can develop and change over time as the person grows. The environment of the person also plays a huge role in what personality the person will display. A person that lives in a stable environment for most of their life is far more likely to display a much more stable personality over the course of their life [ CITATION Per09 \l 1033 ]. If a person’s relationship, family and surroundings remain consistent, it is fair to say that their personality is likely to in turn remain consistent. It is very possible however, that features of the environment reflect that of the people that make up that environment. So other people in that environment moving on causing an environmental shift could also have an impact on the person’s personality. The same environment could also have a very different impact on two different people’s personality. This is due to the fact that each individual will gain something different from a similar environment. The same environment can often bring about two very different personalities [ CITATION Per091 \l 1033 ].

People’s personality is very complex and is made up by a large number of different factors but by far the largest influencers are genetics and environment. Very rarely does it remain consistent over the course of a life because it is very rare for environments to stay consistent. Based off both Allport and Freud’s personality trait theories it is clear to see the impact that both genetics and environment can have on personality over time.

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Bornstein, R. F., Denckla, C. A., & Chung, W.-J. (2013). Psychodynamic models of personality. Handbook of Psychology: Personality and Social Psychology, 43-64. Burton, L., Kowalski, R., & Westen, D. (2015). Psychology (4th ed.). Milton, Queensland, Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia. Caspi, A., & Roberts, B. W. (2009). Personality development across the life course: the argument for change and continuity. Psychological Inquiry, 12(2), 49-66. doi:10.1207/S15327965PLI1202_01 Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (2006). Trait and factor theories. Comprehensive Handbook of Personality and Psychopathology, 96-114. Huang, S., & Purdue, U. (2001). The effect of family environment, personality, and self-efficacy on career indecision of college students. Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 62(6-A), 2028. McAdams, D. P., & Olsen, B. D. (2009). Personality development: continuity and change over the life course. Annual Psychology Review, 62, 517-542. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100507 Plomin, R. (1994). Genetics and Experience: The Interplay Between Nature and Nurtue. London: Thousand Oaks. Van Broeckhoven, C., & Van Gestel, S. (2003). Genetics of personality: are we making progress? Molecular Psychiatry, 8(10), 840-852. Weiss, A. (2018). Personality traits: a view from the animal kingdom. Journal of Personality, 86(1), 12-22. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/10.1111/jopy.12310

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