Determinants of Personality ©

Personality is a major aspect of human existence. So many factors can influence and shape one’s personality and those factors can seemingly become a fusion that determines the overall quality and character that a person possesses.

Genetics are a fascinating part of us both biologically and psychologically. So many aspects of a person fall into the deep pool of genetics including behavior, physical traits and characteristics of one’s personality (Wiley, 2007). Because genetics are unwavering and cannot be changed or determined by the recipient of the genetics, it poses an interesting role in how a personality is developed. A child’s disposition, tendency towards aggression and intelligence can be a result of genetics (Wiley, 2007).

Traits are unique qualifications of personality that we all obtain as human beings. These traits can be plentiful and harmoniously make each person different than the next. Traits can be inherited or even acquired through one’s environment by observing behavior. Agreeableness and neuroticism are some example of personality traits (Livesley, J., Jang, K., Vernon, P., 1998). While the acquisition of traits can be simple, the structure of them can be quite complex. Traits can be phenotypic or even genetically attained (Livesley, J., et al., 1998).

Sociocultural determinants can certainly have an effect on personality. We absorb the environment around us and that shapes and defines whom we develop into. Our social and culture aspects of life certainly delegate how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Many particular cultures differ in belief systems and those cultural treasures affect the child that is raised among them.

Learning is perhaps one of the most impacting determinants of personality. We not only learn traditional knowledge but behaviors that are acceptable in society. This learning can easily intensify personality and create diversions in what should be expected. A child learns right from wrong when being disciplined over poor behavior or is rewarded for positive actions.

Existential-humanistic considerations revolves around the power that we have as thinking human beings and the free will that is devised from it. This can effect personality by enhancing one’s choices in their actions and behaviors. A person can weigh the consequences of an action and make a decision upon it with free will and understanding of the deliberation process that it elicits.

Unconscious mechanisms help determine personality because it deals with the cause of behavior. A person is impinged on by many events in their lives, both knowingly and unknowingly. A volatile childhood can shape one’s personality and cause them to be guarded with others and fearful because of the essential environment they arose from.

Cognitive processes can primarily be explained as the floating factors that make one’s abilities and knowledge put into action (Flower, L., Hayes, J., 1981). How one relays what they know to be and how they enforce that knowledge in their life shows the complexity of cognitive processes at work. How a person recognizes a threat or can read language and adapt that language as a tool are examples of cognitive processes that can shape personality. The more one thrives on this ability, the more robust and well defined their personality may become.

References

Flower, L., Hayes, J., Initials. (1981). A Cognitive process theory of writing. College
Composition and Communication, 32(4), Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/356600.

Livesley, J., Jang, K., Vernon, P. (1998). Phenotypic and genetic structure of
traits delineating personality disorder . Archives of General Psychiatry, 55(10), Retrieved from http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/55/10/941.

Wiley, J. (2007). The Evolutionary genetics of personality. Retrieved from
http://www.unm.edu/~gfmiller/newpapers_sept6/penke%202007%20targetarticle.pdf.