'“Heredity determines personality” (a) Build a theoretical argument to support this statement (b) Build a theoretical'

OVER SIMPLISTIC

Overall, Heredity does personality, however it is not the only factor that determines who we are.

'Heredity determines personality'

Eysenck

ERIKSON

Two dimensions of personality:

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

Introvert

Extrovert

Bandura: Bobo Doll Study

This statement suggests that a person is born with a personality that they have inherited via their parents genetics. There are arguements and theories to both support and counter this statement. This has become known as the 'Nature Vs. Nurture' debate.

OPERANT CONDITIONING

Emotional

Stability

Emotional

Instability

(Zwinglius Reduvivus, 2011 - online)

per·son·al·i·ty   [pur-suh-nal-i-tee]

noun,

1. the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others: He has a pleasing personality.

2. a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities: He is a curious personality.

3. Psychology .

a. the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.

b. the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.

4. the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity.

5. the essential character of a person.

Skinner's Box

(PPDictionary, 2011 - online)

(b) Build a theoretical argument against this statement

(a) Build a theoretical argument to support this statement

NURTURE/IDIOGRAPHIC

NATURE/NOMOTHETIC

VS.

Theorists

(trans4mind.com, 2011)

AGAINST SUMMARY

FREUD

Eysenck

oral - anal - phallic

Cattell

early childhood experiences

different levels of conciousness

the 'whole' person in relation to their past

Cattell

• 'Scientific' approach
• Identifies traits and characteristics of an individual
• "Personality is consistent, largely inherited and resistant to change"

It's argued personality is heavily influenced by the environment of an individual.

The idiographic approach regards personality as not fixed from birth, but a variable which is shaped by interactions with the individual's environment.

ID - SUPEREGO - EGO

(Hear Rock City Blog, 2011 - online)

Learned behaviour: Social learning theory

Operant conditioning

Erikson: 8 stages of personality development

Freud: Psychoanalytical

Weaknesses of Nature Arguement

Two types of personality trait:

The Big Five

• Surface traits
• Source traits

In conclusion...

WEAKNESSES OF NATURE

cannot measure personality traits with scientific precision

Therefore all of the above shows that there are many theorists with theories

to support both sides of the arguement.

The 'complementary approach' however proves most useful when

investigating personality as it takes both aspects of nature and nurture into

consideration and determines personality is created from an interaction

of the two.

how would you quantify outgoingness?

social bias, difficulties in operationalising questions

affect

identical twins?

deterministic and

The Big Five

Source traits

Surface traits

Monozygotic twins share the same genetic code, yet they don't have identical personalities...

• Underlie the observable traits

• Observable

• Extroversion/Introversion
• Agreeableness/Hostility
• Conscientiousness/Heedlessness
• Emotional stability/Instability
• Openness or intellect/Closed-mindedness

• Not observable

• Clusters

• E.g. Being self-disciplined

or being trusting

(Bioethics Blog, 2011)

references.

Bioethics Blog. (2011). Separated At Birth... For Research. Available: http://blog.bioethics.net/2007/12/separated-at-birth-for-research/. Last accessed 27th Nov 2011.

Emerald In Sight. (2011). A Study Of Inspection. Available: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=840107&show=html. Last accessed 28th Nov 2011.

Hear Rock City Blog. (2011). Freud Said It All. Available: http://hearrockcity.blogspot.com/2009/05/freud-said-it-all.html. Last accessed 27th Nov 2011.

PPDictionary. (2011) Personality Development. Available: http://www.learn.ppdictionary.com/personality_development_4.htm. Last accessed 27th Nov 2011.

trans4mind.com. (2011). The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Available: http://www.trans4mind.com/personality/EPQ.html. Last accessed 27th Nov 2011.

Zwinglius Redivivus. (2011). Copycats. Available: http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/copycats/. Last accessed 27th Nov 2011.

Emerald in Sight (2011 - online)