Where do our characteristics come from?
Where do our characteristics come from?
Scientists have long explored how traits develop. Psychologists are no exception.
In psychology, a trait is any distinct aspect of human behavior or mental processes. A behavior trait could include how often a person exercises or their likelihood of helping someone in need. Mental processes include how often a person feels sad or if a person often thinks about past failures.
Psychologists study these traits to understand human behavior. Often, identifying traits leads to a new question: Why does this person have this trait in the first place?
Nature
Biological parents can pass genes on to their children. These genes then influence traits in their offspring.
Personality psychology provides a great example of this. Several studies show genes play a major role in shaping one's personality. One study found that genes account for about 30% of a person's personality. This may be higher for specific traits. A 2014 study found that genes have a larger influence on emotional stability.
Nurture
Nurture can influence our traits in several ways. First, inadequate nutrition, exposure to toxins, and injuries can change our biology. For example, lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body. Lead poisoning interferes with the body's functions. This can result in poor memory, sluggishness, and developmental delays in children.
Humans learn from past experiences. These experiences are shaped by the environment. Sometimes these lessons are explicit. Someone tells us something, and we internalize that answer. Learning can also be an unintended or secondary consequence.
The environment also influences our personality. A parent may praise their child for picking up their toys. This feedback may encourage the child to be conscientious in the future. A child may overhear their parents criticizing someone else for leaving a mess. This may also shape the child's personality.
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