Nature and nurture play a role in the personality development∣ 1

FL3043-WRITING SKILLS III

Assignment No.4: Introduction and 1st body paragraph

Nature and nurture play a role in the personality development

Student name: Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Trang

Student ID: 20204175

Class code: 128555

School of Foreign Languages

Hanoi University of Science and Technology

Date: 07/01/2022
 Nature and nurture play a role in the personality development∣ 2

During the first half of the 20th century, science has wondered about the question that “Is

personality due mostly to nature - the genetic disposition with which a person is born or is it due

mostly to nurture - the circumstances in which a person is raised?” (Leary, 2009).  In my

opinion, I explosively agree with the idea that personality development can be explained by both

heritable and external factors. In this essay, I will focus on many sides to show that you are born

with a fixed identity, which remains the same throughout one's life (Lange, 2020), and how you

are raised determines your personality.

First of all, personality is undoubtedly influenced by a person’s inborn biological makeup.

Actually, you have heard the idiom: "Like father, like son". This phrase not only refers to

appearance, intelligence but also comes from innate personality - genetics (Solomon, G. E.,

Johnson, S. C., Zaitchik, D., & Carey, S. , 1996). Today, science proves this more clearly.

According to Stangor and Walinga  (2020), a gene is the fundamental natural unit that transmits

characteristics from one generation to the following. They estimate that 20% - 60% of

personality is determined by genetic factors.  The genes of different members of the duplicate

species are nearly the same. The DNA in your genes, for example, is about 99.9% the same as

the DNA in my genes and in the DNA of every different mortal being. These common

inheritable structures lead members of the same species to be born with a diversity of behaviors

that approach naturally to them and that define the characteristics of the species. These capacities

and characteristics are known as instincts - complex inborn patterns of behaviors that help secure

survival and replication (Tinbergen, 2019). However, personality does not have a clear

inheritance pattern and there are no specific genes that regulate specific personality traits.

Instead, there are thousands of new combinations of gene variants that are sufficient to produce

personality traits. Those genes underlie differences in people’s personalities. Moreover, Stangor
 Nature and nurture play a role in the personality development∣ 3

and Walinga  (2020) stated that personality can be shaped by genes. They depend on behavioral

genetics which is a variety of investigation methods that scientists apply to learn about the

inheritable and environmental impacts on genes by analyzing the traits of biologically and non-

biologically related family members. The consequences of family studies, twin studies, and

adoptive studies form the basis of behavioral genetics.

References

 Stangor,C., & Walinga,J. (2020). Introduction to Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition.

Retrieved from: https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/11-3-is-personality-
more-nature-or-more-nurture-behavioral-and-molecular-genetics/.

 Leary, M.(2019). Personality and the Nature-Nurture Debate, Understanding the mysteries
of human behavior. Retrieved from: https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/personality-and-
the-nature-nurture-debate/

  Lange, M.(2020). Understanding the Concept of Identity. Retrieved from:

https://writing.champlain.edu/2020/08/17/understanding-the-concept-of-identity/

 Solomon, G. E., Johnson, S. C., Zaitchik, D., & Carey, S. (1996). Like father, like son:
young children's understanding of how and why offspring resemble their parents. Retrieved
from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8605825/