Nature and Nurture Effect on Personality and Behavior

How Nature and Nurture Affect Personality and Behavior of Highschool Students

Asseel Mutasem Amro

English Department, Dar Jana International School Grade 12

Senior English Course

Mr.Marwan Bassis

April 2022

A Research Study in Fulfillment of the Graduation Project of the English Subject.

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Table of Contents

Abstract.....................................................................................................................2

Introduction..............................................................................................................3

Literature Review.....................................................................................................4

The scope of nature and nurture in psychology.....................................................4

What is Nature in Psychology………………………………………………4

What is Nurture in Psychology……………………………………………..4

The Scope of Nature and Nurture in Psychology………………..………...….…4

The Effect of Nature on Personality and Behavior………………....…………...5

The Effect of Nurture on Personality and Behavior………………………….....5

The Relationship between Nature and Nurture……………………………..…..6

Methodology.............................................................................................................7

Type of research.......................................................................................................7

Data collection tool..................................................................................................8

Procedure..................................................................................................................8

Participants...............................................................................................................8

Data Analysis and Interpretation...........................................................................9

Conclusion...............................................................................................................11

Part II: Critical Reflection....................................................................................12

References...............................................................................................................14

Appendices..............................................................................................................16

Appendix A: Questionnaire……………………………………………….16

Appendix B: Summary of Responses………………………………….….19

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Abstract

Since the 1800s psychologists debated whether the human personality was shaped by

nature or nurture. This research will experimentally study the relationship between nature and

nurture in shaping personality and behavior.What is nature and nurture? Nature is all the genes

and heredity factors that influence the personality and behavior of a person. However, nurture is

the environment, community, and experiences since birth that influence the personality and

behavior of a person. Personality and behavior is the way a person acts, thinks, and feels. This

research will discuss three main ideas. First, it’ll talk about how nature shapes the personality

and behavior of a person. Second idea will be about how nurture shapeggfguihuhuhukyus the

personality and behavior of a person, and, finally, how nature and nurture both play a role in

shaping the personality and behavior of a person. After discussing all main ideas, a Google form

survey will be analytically analyzed and discussed. Fifty four high school students took part in

the survey. The survey shows that nature and nurture both play equal roles in shaping personality

and behavior of high school students.

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Introduction

Since the 1800s a debate in psychology was opened and never settled. Do genes inherited

from parents or the experience of a person shape his personality and behavior? One of the most

controversial topics in psychology and biology is the nature vs nurture debate. The discussion

focuses on how genetic inheritance and environmental variables affect human personality and

behavior.

Nature or in other words genes play a role in defining who a person is on the inside and

out. While nurture or more specifically non-genetic factors play a role, what scientists have

discovered about these influences may conflict with popular belief. A characteristic or behavior

that appears to be the result of a child's upbringing—such as a proclivity for mental illness or

divorce—could actually be largely due to the genes she inherited from her parents. In fact,

research into the impact of the family environment suggests that it only accounts for a small

portion of the variation in people's characteristics that scientists track (Psychology Today, 2022).

In the late teenage years personality pretty much is set in rocks; therefore, it is crucial to know

what shapes the behavior and personality of highschool students more. Is it nature or nurture?

Answering this question will help parents, teachers, and therapists in helping our kids grow to

their full potential.

This research aims to discuss how nature and nurture shape personality and behavior, and

possible effects on young adults’ everyday life in hopes of coming up with a better

understanding and a possible solution for this debate. Thus, the driving question is

illustrated in “What are Nature and Nurture Roles in Shaping personality and Behavior?”
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Literature Review

The Scope of Nature and Nurture in Psychology

What is Nature in Psychology

All of the genes and inherited elements that impact who we are, from our physical

appearance to our psychological traits, are referred to as nature (Cherry, 2020).

Genetics is studied by psychologists in order to gain a better understanding of the

biological basis for certain behaviors. While we all share some biological mechanisms, we are all

different. While many of the same parts of our bodies—brains, hormones, and cells with genetic

codes—these are expressed in a wide range of behaviors, thoughts, and reactions (Spielman et

al., 2014). Intellectual ability, social attitudes, tastes, and personality are all influenced by

genetics. Extroversion, neuroticism, openness to new experiences, and conscientiousness, for

example, have a 40 to 50 percent genetic influence, according to studies. Indeed, it is thought

that heredity influences all psychological traits to some extent (GoodTherapy, 2017).

What is Nurture in Psychology

Nurture encompasses all of the environmental factors that shape who we are, such as our

early life experiences, upbringing, social interactions, and culture (Cherry, 2020).

Nurture holds that environmental factors cause psychological outcomes. For instance, it

seems that the amount of time parents spend reading with their offspring and their offspring's

ability to read are linked. Environmental stress and its impact on depression is another example

(Saul McLeod, 2018).

Hatcher (2018) indicates that childhood trauma is linked to anxiety and depression later

in adulthood.
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PTSD is estimated to afflict 8% of the adult population in the United States, according to

the DSM 4. However, it is also known that only 9% of persons who are exposed to trauma

acquire PTSD. Which shows how much past experiences affect future behavior (DSM 4, 1994).

The Effect of Nature on Personality and Behavior

Genetics, according to scientists, determines 20 to 60% of personality.Personality, on the

other hand, does not follow a definite hereditary pattern, and no individual genes give certain

behavioral characteristics. Instead, a huge number of common gene variations (polymorphisms)

combine to determine individual features. Other DNA modifications, epigenetic changes, that do

not change DNA sequences, are also likely to influence personality (MedlinePlus, 2020).

In a study of personality traits and flourishing, researchers discovered significant genetic

influences on the associations, as well as a unique genetic influence on wellbeing that wasn't

related to personality. Based on Keyes' tripartite model, which includes emotional,

psychological, and social wellbeing, and thus contains both feeling good and performing well

(Espen, Ragnhild B., Nikolai O., and Olav, 2018). Another study held between 1979 and 1999,

350 pairs of twins were studied in the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart. Among the

participants were identical and fraternal twins who had been nurtured together or apart. The

findings demonstrated that identical twins' personalities were similar whether they were raised in

the same household or apart, implying that genetics influences some aspects of personality

(Cherry, 2020).

The Effect of Nurture on Personality and Behavior

According to the study, external conditions are more likely to play a role in the

development of a person's personality than the genes inherited from their parents. Researchers

from the Universities of Exeter and Hamburg looked into how personality is passed down
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through generations. Foster parents have a higher influence on the personality of fostered

children than genes inherited from birth parents, according to the researchers (ScienceDaily,

2013). Moreover, while a family history of mental health conditions was the second strongest

predictor of psychological illness, researchers at the University of Liverpool discovered that life

experiences, such as childhood bullying, abuse, or other trauma, were the key determinants. This

lends credence to the notion that the environment has a considerable impact on the development

of mental health problems (GoodTherapy, 2018).

Hatcher (2018) investigated the impact of childhood poverty and trauma on adult

depression symptoms in young males living in South African communities. Data was gathered

from young men between the ages of 18 and 30. In two peri-urban South African areas,

researchers employed a community-based survey. It looked at things including childhood abuse,

depression, food insecurity, childhood poverty, and socioeconomic determinants in young adults.

This study's data sample included 2,427 African American males around the ages of 24. As a

result, it was discovered that childhood trauma was associated with the likelihood of developing

depression as a young adult. Hunger, several residences, and other socioeconomic factors in

childhood were also substantial predictors of depression. It was also discovered that childhood

poverty was strongly linked to adult depression (Hatcher, 2018).

The Relationship between Nature and Nurture

Many scientists refer to the nature vs. nurture debate by “nature x nurture.”. However,

nature and nurture work together. Certain environmental inputs, for example, are required for the

activation of some genes (GoodTherapy, 2018).

There has been a rising recognition in recent years that the question of "how much"

behavior is due to heredity and "how much" to the surroundings may be the wrong question. The
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"how much" question implies that psychological characteristics can all be quantified and that the

problem can be answered numerically (McLeod, 2018). The heritability statistics used in

behavioral genetic studies have been criticized as meaningless, primarily because biologists have

established that genes cannot affect development without the influence of environmental factors;

genetic, nature, and nongenetic, nurture, variables always interact to produce different

characteristics. Nature and nurture, in actuality, interact in a variety of qualitatively diverse ways

(Gottlieb, 2007; Johnston & Edwards, 2002).

MThe majority of psychologists are now interested in studying how nature and nurture

cooperate in shaping behavior and personality, rather than defending extreme nativist or nurturist

beliefs. For example, in psychopathology, this means that for a mental condition to emerge, both

a genetic predisposition and an adequate environmental trigger are required (McLeod, 2018).

Methodology

Type of Research: Survey

Data Collection Tool

The topic of this study addresses a major issue that affects a large group of people,

teenagers, and requires eliciting and analyzing their responses; thus, a quantitative study was the

most effective method of investigation. This study used a Google Forms survey to acquire

quantitative data. Google Forms is a free, straightforward, and easy-to-use data collection tool

that is part of the G-suite, which includes our school's email domain. It allows the researcher to

create a survey with an endless number of questions and structures, as well as the option to share

the survey with an unlimited number of people. It's also available on a variety of devices,

including smartphones and desktops. Your data is also saved and your job is completed on a
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regular basis by the program. After results are gathered, Google Forms analyzes the data in

graphs and charts.

Procedure

Prior to creating my survey, I spent the majority of my time searching the internet for

sources to narrow down the topic I was researching so that I could be satisfied while conducting

my research. I decided to investigate the mental side of my issue because it aroused my attention.

I got to this conclusion after going through various papers, studies, and publications. Next, I

made sure to integrate the same ideas and themes that I discovered during my source scaffolding

gathering. Aside from one question that was immediately altered, my survey had almost no issue

getting to its conclusion. Finally, I double-checked the survey's logic before sending it out to

friends and relatives through email and WhatsApp.

Participants

Adolescents at my school were the focus of this survey and study in general. It was sent

to 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, both male and female. I chose this age group because

I believe it is an important phase of life, and I want to learn more about the outcomes and effects.

This aligns with my earlier concentration on adolescents, particularly high school students.

Certain variables and characteristics may alter some of the statistics because some of my

respondents do not attend the same school or reside in the same country. Because most of the

responses were from the same institution, where I go, the general makeover should be in line

with the investigation path I'm trying to take. After receiving approximately 54 responses, I can

determine whether the results support or oppose the conclusions presented in the literature

review.
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Data Analysis and Interpretation

All questions of this survey are found in Appendix A.

All results of this survey are found in Appendix B.

Questions 1, 2, and 3 gather general information about the participants gender, grade

level, and age. My survey has 54 responses of which 61% were females, 76% were grade 12

students, and 72% being between 16 and 17 years old. The statistics gathered show the diversity

amongst the survey. The participants gathered helped tackle the research’s target group,

highschool students.

Questions 4 and 5 were asked to see if the community around the participants would

change their personality or the way the participant would think. Out of the 54 participants, 52%

said that the group around the participant will change their personality. Moreover, 45% of the

participants said that when not alone the way of thinking changes, however, 35% said that the

way they think will not change, and the rest being unsure. These statistics correlate with the

study done by ScienceDaily (2013) where it indicated that foster parents have the bigger impact

on the twins. Which shows that the community/group around a person would have the greater

impact on shaping personality and behavior.

Questions 6 and 7 were asked to see how many hours does the participant spend with his

parents, and if the participant acts like them. 46% of the participants spend around 1 to 3 hours

daily with their parents, and 39% of the participants spend around 3 to 5 hours daily.

Furthermore, 43% of the participants said that they do not act like their parents unlike the 33%

who said that they do act like their parents. The statistics discussed do not convey with any of the

literature discussed earlier in the research.

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Question 8 was asked to see if the participants’ parents act like their parents. With 26% of

the participants answering no, the rest agreed or were unsure of the answer. The data shown

above is not enough to conclude a valid conclusion due to the high number of participants being

unsure.

Questions 9 and 10 elicit participants' reflection on any change in their personalities and

if the change correlates with their friends. 57% of participants stated that their personality did

change, however this change had no relation to their friends. This data contrasts the study done

by Hatcher (2018), which conveys that the environment plays a huge role in shaping personality

and behavior.

Questions 11 and 12 were asked to see what participants think shape personality and

behavior. With an overwhelming majority, all participants think that genes, experiences, and

environment all shape personality and behavior. This data correlates with GoodTherapy (2018),

which states that it's nonsense to think that nature or nurture play a higher role in shaping

personality and behavior. They both play equally important roles in shaping personality and

behavior.
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Conclusion

The above research shows that both nature and nurture play equal roles in shaping

personality and behavior. The extent to which genetic factors influence behavior is dependent on

the social environment in which people live, work, and play, according to two decades of

research (Paola Scommegna, 2019).

The data collected from the survey correlates strongly with the information

presented in the literature. The huge impact of the environment on personality and behavior was

shown when 52% of the participants answered that the group around them will change their

personality.

Moreover, the data collected also showed that both nature and nurture play a role in

shaping personality and behavior when 76% of the participants answered that community,

experiences, genes all play roles in shaping personality and behavior.

Because my resources and experience do not qualify me to conduct such an accurate and

legitimate study, this research cannot be considered a scientific study that can be relied upon,

However, it can be a simple step that can lead to further research and emphasizes the importance

of addressing this issue because it affects a significant group of people in the society, high school

students.
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Critical Reflection

Completing my research was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of my academic

career. In grade 11, I had started working on a research project, but it was nothing given the

amount of work that had to be completed in grade 12. For starters, research in grade 12 is much

harder and extensive. Second, the research is part of my grade 12 graduation project, which I

must do properly. Third, completing this enormous effort is a personal challenge for me. As a

result, I got right to work as soon as the teacher told us to.

First and foremost, I needed to fully comprehend what a research is and what it requires. I

understood the magnitude of the task ahead of me when I looked up comparable works online.

So, I was overwhelmed by the work and hesitated, but I knew it was a must-do project from prior

grads. As a result, I began to evaluate potential themes for discussion. I needed to pick

something that is both interesting and manageable. I was always interested in psychology so a

topic related to it is best. Then I remembered the ongoing debate, nature vs nurture. It piqued my

interest and directly chose it to be my topic of discussion.

Then I had to cut down my topic to make it more manageable and rational to approach.

As a result, I sought my teacher's help and discussed the overall matter with him, and he

suggested that I discuss the effect of nature and nurture on personality and behavior. Next, I

formed my key question "What are Nature and Nurture Roles in Shaping Personality and

Behavior?"

The next stage was to find relevant material to discuss that would assist me in shedding

the essential light on the issue as a whole. As a result, I went online to hunt for relevant material

that I might utilize. I gathered a variety of materials and obtained the teacher's consent for the

inquiry as well as the sources to be used.

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Then, because my data collection technique was a survey built on Google Forms, I had to

create an online form. I began by writing down all of the possible questions that came to mind

and then revising them before constructing the survey and sharing it with my teacher, who

assisted me in editing and orienting it in the right direction. My instructor then assisted in the

distribution of the survey to high school students at Dar Jana International School.

The remaining steps grew more doable and simpler to complete, although they still

required a significant amount of effort. I was tired at times and procrastinated a little, but I got

everything done in the end. I began analyzing data and drawing connections after gathering a

sufficient number of participants (54). The analysis was not difficult to do, but it was

time-consuming. The data collected correlated with the idea that both nature and nurture affect

personality and behavior.

The conclusion and summary of the study were aided by the analysis and linkages. Then,

with the deadline approaching, I began working on the final layout of the research.

Because of the extensive labor that this project required and because I had too many

academic commitments at school, I procrastinated my work and only finished and submitted it

close to the deadline. Finishing this research taught me the value of time management, the

significance of organization, and the fact that nothing is truly impossible.

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References

Aiosa, A. (2019, December). How Childhood Traumatic Experiences Shape Elements of Adult

Personality and Mental Health. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1337&context=honorscoll

Cherry, K. (2020, April 27). How personality traits are developed and change over time.

Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.verywellmind.com/are-personality-traits-caused-by-genes-or-environment-

120707

Cherry, K. (2020, June 03). What to know about nature vs. nurture. Retrieved April 13, 2022,

from

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392#:~:text=Nature

Genetics. (2017, October 16). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/genetics#:~:text=Genetics%20and%20Ps

Genetics. (2022, April 4). Retrieved April 14, 2022, from

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/genetics#why-genes-matter-in-psychology

GoodTherapy, Nature vs. nurture debate. (2015, December 08). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture

Mcleod, S. (2018). Nature vs. nurture in psychology. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html#:~:text=Nurture%20assumes%

MedlinePlus, (2020, September 17). Is temperament determined by genetics?: Medlineplus

Genetics. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/traits/temperament/

Røysamb, E., Nes, R., Czajkowski, N., & Vassend, O. (2018, August 17). Genetics, personality
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and wellbeing. A twin study of traits, facets and life satisfaction. Retrieved April 23,

2022, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29881-x

Scommegna, P. (2019, April 4). It's Nature and Nurture: How Our Genes and Our Friends

Shape the Way We Live Our Lives. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.prb.org/resources/its-nature-and-nurture-how-our-genes-and-our-friends-sh

pe-the-way-we-live-our-lives/#:~:text=Two%20decades%20of%20research%20make,liv

%2C%20work%2C%20and%20play.

Spielman, R., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2014,

December 08). Human genetics. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://opentextbc.ca/psychologyopenstax/chapter/human-genetics/

University of Exeter, Personality is the result of nurture, not nature, suggests study on birds.

(2013, June 05). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130605090524.htm
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Appendices

Appendix A:
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Appendix B:
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