Question
Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our
personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life.
Which do you consider to be the major influence?
Answer
For centuries, people have debated the issue of nature versus nurture, which refers to whether
talent and personality are innate or due to environmental factors. This essay will argue that it is a
mixture of the two that shapes who we are.
In terms of nature, most human beings seem to be born with certain innate personality traits, such
as determining whether we are outgoing or introverted, optimistic or pessimistic, credulous or
sceptical. It is believed that these are coded into our DNA and have been a part of us since before
birth, so it is quite difficult to change them. However, humans are very malleable during their first
two decades on Earth and so it is unclear just how much a person’s personality is the result of their
genes and how much was picked up in those early years. Also, it is clear that major events and
situations can affect that personality development during this crucial time.
The nurture side of the debate is a bit clearer because we can more easily observe how people
change over time due to the events in their life. A baby adopted into a new family may change its
personality as it grows, for example, and major traumatic events can, of course, cause people to
alter their outlook. There are countless examples of optimistic young people going to war or being in
a tragic accident and then turning into bitter, cynical, and withdrawn people. Clearly, their
personality was changed by external factors, so nature is not necessarily the predominant force.
In conclusion, both viewpoints have their merits but in most cases it is a mixture of the two that
creates a person’s personality. It is hard to know the extent to which either of these really is
responsible, but we can be sure that they both have an important effect on it.
