Heredity and/or Environment

PSY 329

Kerlin Vargas
 A. Find one scholarly article (in an academic journal that is peer reviewed and that is

available in full text) that discusses the impact of “heredity” on the development of the

traits of the human personality. Prepare a brief synopsis of the information contained

in this article in APA Style with relevant in-text citations (about 250 words) in

which you include information about which traits the authors believe are most

influenced by the individual’s heredity.

The article that I chose is “Uncovering the complex genetics of human character” by Zwir et al.

The article explains that people’s character is based off a complicated set of elements. The

elements that govern the traits that are hereditary are described as “psychobiology of character as

a complex network of genotypes with specific molecular processes and neuronal functions that

regulate personality development” (Zwir et al, 2018, pp. 2308). The authors used what is known

as the TCI (Temperament and Character Inventory). The TCI is used to measure dimensions of

temperament and character. The authors as well used the Young Finns study, which was an

epidemiological study of 2149 Finnish children that were monitored for 32 years, 1980-2012.

They replicated the results of the Finnish study using two independent samples from Germany

and Korea. Their method of measuring people’s temperament and characters is based off

identifying sets or clusters of SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) which are the most

common types of genetic variation among people. Using SNP as the genetic marker that

associates the genes to the character and temperament combinations. For example, “people with

the "organized" character profile were high in most subscales of self-directedness and

cooperativeness, but were low in all subscales of self-transcendence (i.e., they were controlling,

individualistic, and skeptical).” (Zwir et al, 2018, pp.2298). This is an example of how the TCI

measures character and temperament. In figure 1B it shows the how the combinations of SNP are
associated with character traits. The authors were able to conclude the effect of a person’s genes

has on a person’s temper and character.

B. Find one scholarly article (in an academic journal that is peer reviewed and that is

available in full text) that discusses the impact of “environment” on the development

of the traits of the human personality. Prepare a brief synopsis of the information

contained in this article in APA Style with relevant in-text citations (about 250 words) in

which you include information about which traits the authors believe are most influenced

by the environment in which an individual is raised.

The article I chose is “Genetic and environmental influences on personality trait stability and

growth during the transition to adulthood: A three wave longitudinal study” by Hopwood et al.

The authors of this article want to investigate the patterns and root of personality changes

throughout the ages of 17-29. To investigate the changes in patterns they utilized 3 waves of

multidimensional personality surveys given to twins. The importance of the age range is dictated

by the understanding that those years are known as the volitional years of life, “Arnett (2000) has

proposed that the period of development from the late teens through the end of the 20s is a time

of “emerging adulthood”. Indeed, he described the period of the early 20s as the “volitional years

of life” (p. 469) because individuals seem to spend considerable resources exploring issues of

identity and intimacy” (Hopwood et al, 2011, pp. 2). The sheer number of challenges and

experiences that humans will encounter throughout those years make it extremely valuable for

research in personality. The authors will gauge the changes in personality by utilizing the four

factors used in the majority of structural models of personality: Negative emotionality or

neuroticism (NEM), agentic positive emotionality or extraversion (PEM-A), communal positive

emotionality or agreeableness (PEM-C), and constraint (Hopwood et al, 2011, pp. 3). As well
measuring the factors and traits which need to be measured. The authors must take into account

the probability of personality stability and change. There are two types of types to take into

account, absolute stability and differential stability. Results showed that personality changes

become more stable during the second half of transition to adulthood and that negative

emotionality seem to decrease throughout the later years and that constraint increases as people

age.

C. Prepare a solid paragraph (250 words) in which you compare and contrast the information

contained in the two articles (above). Remember to provide relevant in-text citations with page

numbers.

It is obvious that personality is not a nature or nurture discussion but rather that both nature and

nurture are factors that heavily influence personality. The information that was presented by both

articles show that studies are multifaceted studies that must be conducted within large periods of

time. Both articles describe the importance measuring personality traits such as openness,

neuroticism, considerable, and cooperativeness. Both articles made an attempt to include how the

the opposing side had a factor in their sample. Zwir et al included a section dedicated to the

environmental factor, “We also considered environmental in fluences in the Finnish sample.

There were direct associations of sets of environmental in fluences in childhood and adulthood

with character sets (Supplementary Table S23A) and with SNP sets” (Zwir et al, 2018, pp.

2304). Hopwood et al included how some personality traits are hereditary, “Genetically informed

cross-sectional studies have made important contributions to personality psychology by

demonstrating that higher order traits are substantially and similarly heritable but also influenced

by non-shared environmental factors” (Hopwood et al, 2011, pp. 4). The articles are more

distinct. Since, hopwood et al considered to study personality traits during the years of
 adulthood, as opposed to Zwir et al that studied children for 32 years while utilizing three

distinct data samples from Finland, Germany, and Korea. As opposed to the Hopwood et al study

that only used a local Minnesota Twin Family study. More information can be extracted from the

Zwir et al study because of its diverse and expansive data set. Although the Hopwood et al study

only focused on twins and not a general population.

D.

Referring to our e-Textbook (Fancher & Rutherford, 2017) please explain clearly how the

different research methods of Galton and de Candolle in the domain of intelligence eventually

led to the use of the term's “nature” and “nurture” (p. 253-256).

The different research methods of Galton and De Candolle led to the use of the term's “nature”

and “nurture” because they argued two diametrically opposed positions. Galton argues that

intelligence is heredity and that the successes of the scientist was based upon their genetics.

Galton’s research method was not as extensive as De Candolle. Galton used twelve families to

discover the patterns between their physical and mental capabilities. De Candolle however

utilized the self-questionnaire method as distributed it to 192 distinguished scientists to research

and publish his findings on the effect on environmental influences such as family influence and

culture. Galton took De Candolle’s findings as a challenge and decided to further expand his

research. He coined the term nature vs nurture as opposition to De Candolle’s position and

challenge to the position of nature’s influence on intelligence.

 References

Hopwood CJ, Donnellan MB, Blonigen DM, Krueger RF, McGue M, Iacono WG, Burt SA.

Genetic and environmental influences on personality trait stability and growth during the

transition to adulthood: a three-wave longitudinal study. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2011

Mar;100(3):545-56. doi: 10.1037/a0022409. PMID: 21244174; PMCID: PMC3058678.

Zwir, I., Arnedo, J., Del-Val, C. et al. Uncovering the complex genetics of human character. Mol

Psychiatry 25, 2295–2312 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0263-6