Personality!

Mullins (2010) states that personality is ‘an individual’s unique set of characteristics and tendencies which shape a sense of self, and what that person does and the behaviour they exhibit’.

Nature v Nurture

One of the biggest debates to modern day man is whether personality is inherited (nature) or developed due to environmental growth (nurture). Nature theorists believe people behave totally on genetic built and natural instincts, disregarding any external factors to growth. Whereas nurture theorists believe that people think and behave in certain ways due to the idea that they are taught to do so, with the natural responses already being there.

The  main difference between the two is that the nature side of the coin believes that DNA is the overall answer, we are born with eye colour and hair colour, however this theory believes that we are also born with traits such as intelligence, anger, emotional value etc, believing that we do not learn any of these traits. Whereas nurture doesn’t discount the idea of genetics in terms of eye colour etc, nurture believes that our behaviour is learned for the environment and how we are brought up, but the traits are ever present in our genetics.

The nomothetic and idiographic approaches to personality are a massive influence today.

Mullins (2010) states that:

Nomothetic – nomothetic approaches to the study of personality that focus on people in general through the analysis of group data. These approaches claim that personality is largely inherited and resistant to change. This clearly favours the nature side of the debate.

Idiographic – idiographic approaches to the study of personality that focuses on understanding the uniqueness of individuals. These approaches regard personality as a process which is open to change. This clearly favours the nurture side of the debate.

A difference in the two:

Nomothetic	Idiographic
·         Fixed personality ·         Statistical studies of groups to determine personality ·         Objective questionnaires used in research ·         Personality types are branded, pre written ·         Prediction of outcome ·         Links to heredity, biology, genetics ·         Traits are the main idea	·         Individualises personality ·         Uniqueness – no one is the same ·         Adaptable, open to changes ·         Influence of social and cultural processes ·         Interaction with environment ·         Self-concept is the main ideal

It’s fair to say that both sides of the debate to have strong points, however for me, it is hard to tell them apart. Yes people inherit traits from parents etc, but it doesn’t take into account the upbringing of that person, and the external influences that can change anyone’s personality. Therefore I believe that they both have aspects to how personality grows in a person and that there isn’t a clear winner of the two in this debate.

Personality is what makes a person and there are many factors to it. However I do not believe that a written test or online test can determine a person’s personality. Personality is unique and trying to frame it in sub-category just doesn’t work for me, I do not believe science can determine personality as a whole and no test can determine it.