The document discusses the influences on personality, specifically discussing the nature vs nurture debate. It notes that both genetic and environmental factors influence personality, with studies finding a roughly 50% genetic contribution. Environmental influences from sources outside the family like friends and school become more important as children age. While parents do influence traits like values, the parenting style alone does not determine outcomes, and abused children do not always continue cycles of abuse.

2. Influences on personality The two factors that influence our personality that are constantly disputed over in psychology are: 1). Genetic Influences (nature) 2). Environmental Influences (nurture)

3. Genetic Influences In the early 1900s, leading psychologist Thorndike claimed that the main determining factory is heridty In 1925 however, John B. Watson claimed “ Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist merchant-chief and yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors”

4. Genetics continued Almost all psychologists who study personality regard biology and environment as interacting influences that shape personality Genes – the basic units of heredity, are made up of DNA These elements form chemical codes for the synthesis of proteins, which keep us functioning Genes can affect the behaviours we call “personality” through their effects on an infant’s developing brain and nervous system

5. Three methods of studying genetic influence The three main way researchers measure genetic contributions is: 1). By studying personality traits in other species (ie. Monkeys) 2). By studying the temperaments of human infants and children 3). By doing heritability studies of twins and adopted individuals

6. Other species and personalities When we think of an individual that has personality, we often think of human beings – but even bears, goats, cats and more have personality Think about your own pets – you can often describe them too as being shy or hyperactive Ex). Researchers dropped a crab into a tank of octopuses, some of them would aggressively grab that dinner whereas others seemed more passive and waited for the crab to swim near them, some attacked the crab only when they weren’t being watched

7. More genetics Even the most recent of studies reveals that most of the big five traits (a test measuring personality traits that is used to wholly summarize the personality) can be found in 64 different species!

8. Factoring in heritability Scientists have no way of estimating heritability of a trait or behaviour directly so they have to study this on two individuals that are genetically similar That means twin studies! Identical twins – develop when a fertilized egg divides into two parts that then become separate embryos Because the twins come from the same egg, they share all the same genes Fraternal twins – develop in the ovaries by releasing two eggs instead of one Fraternal twins are just as similar as two other siblings, so half their siblings genes but not like identical twins that share full

9. So is nature more powerful or nurture?! Findings from adoption and twin studies have shown that there IS genetic contribution to personality Identical twins raised in separate places with different parents still have very strong similarities in gestures, mannerisms and moods So, their personality is as similar often as how they look Heritability is about 50% of a persons personality – this is true for many countries and cultures

10. But remember… Genetics are still not everything A genetic predisposition does not mean you will necessarily inherit the trait A person may be predisposed to depression, but without certain environmental stresses or situations, he/she still may never become depressed Simplifying depression or shyness as just a genetic contribution is a problem because we would see the only solution to this to be medication

11. Social Cognitive Learning Theory This theory represents that personality traits come partly from your learning history and partly from your resulting expectations and beliefs Ex). Child that studies hard and gets good grades, attention from teachers, admiration from friends and praise from parents  through learning expects  hard work always pays off. So, the child will become in terms of these traits, “ambitious” and “hardworking”

12. Social Cognitive Learning Theory continued… The continual interaction between your qualities and the situation you are in is what this theory focuses on The situation influences your behavior and beliefs, rewarding some behavior while getting rid of others  reciprocal (mutual) determinism

13. Example You are in Ms. Seemi’s INCREDIBLE psychology class. This may inspire you to become a psychologist because you love the class SO much. Or this may also make you psychoanalyze yourself so much that you feel like you are going crazy, making you hate the class. All of these experiences work with your own interpretation, temperament and perceptions. So you will probably form an opinion about psychology as a result of how you feel about this class, your wonderfully patient psychology teacher and this school.

14. Parents and Friends 2 most powerful environmental influences in peoples lives April 1999 – columbine shooting  Dylan and Harris were 2 teenagers furious over the popularity of the school athletes and resentful about their inadequacies. They walked in one morning, killed 12 classmates and a teacher at the high school. They also took their own lives shortly after. Parent’s fault for not raising them better? Should the parents have known?

15. Parental Influence continued The belief that personality is mainly determined by how parents treat their children was quickly changed after the following: 1). The shared environment of the home has little if any influence on personality 2). Few parents have a single child-rearing style that is consistent over time and that they use with all their children 3). Even when parents try to be consistent in the way they treat their children, there may be little relation between what they do and how they turn out

16. 1). Shared environment in home Shared environment – family you grew up with and background/experiences you shared with your siblings Nonshared environment – all things outside of your home on your own, such as being in my class right now So in summary, this point is talking about how the family you’re raised in isn’t always the main thing, it actually has little to do with it, it has more to do with your experiences outside of the home and away from your family that shape you such as being in school and hanging out with your friends

17. 2). Parents rarely have one way or raising their children The way a parent is with their child depends on many factors such as their mood at the time, their stresses and problems, whether they are married or separated and also how happy they are with their partner if they are married.

18. 3). Even if consistent, there is little relation between parenting and how children turn out Abused children sometimes do not continue the cycle of violence and don’t let the abuse do them emotional damage Some of the kindest and most nurturing parents are children of drug addicts and gang members.

19. Parental influence Of course your parents do influence you in things such as religion, your ideas of masculinity and femininity, skills and values Above all, parents affect the quality of their relationship with their children – whether their children feel loved, secure and valued or humiliated, frightened and worthless

20. Study on effects of parenting Study done on children age 3-21 Impulsive, uncontrollable and aggressive at age 3  often become impulsive, unreliable and antisocial and more likely to commit crimes What protected some children from being at risk was having parents who made sure they stayed in school, were supervised and received discipline

21. Influence of Nonshared environment Once child starts preschool, parental influence on children's behavior outside of the home decreases Nonshared environment or classmates, teachers, friends, events and situations take over