PSYC 2009
Assignment: Reflecting on How Your Personality Evolved
Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Walden University
PSYC 2009: Theories of Personality
Factors in Personality Development that have had the Most Influence on My Personality
If I were to choose the factors that have had the most influence on my personality
development, I would say that those factors include genetic, culture, and family.
This week, in our learning resources, we learned that personality psychologists have
pinpointed one main path through which genes affect personality, that path being temperament
(Cervone & Pervin, 2019).
Temperament refers to the biologically based behavioral and emotional tendencies seen
in early childhood (Cervone & Pervin, 2019). One example given in our resources is how people
react differently in social settings with many people they do not know (Cervone & Pervin,
2019). My father still is uncomfortable in large gatherings with people that he is not familiar
with. I was the same way growing up. It was very evident in my childhood and early
adolescence. I have learned different ways to deal with this feeling of anxiety, but it is something
that I still struggle with to this day. I believe that I received this personality trait from my father.
Another factor that I believe influenced my personality development significantly is
culture. In our learning resources this week, culture is classified under environmental
determinants of personality development (Cervone & Pervin, 2019). An article provided in our
resources this week suggests that Americans can be divided into regions of the United States by
their distinct personalities (American Psychological Association, 2013). According to this article,
people who live in the Mid-Atlantic region, such as myself, are prone to being temperamental
and express their feelings and thoughts without restraint (American Psychological Association,
2013). I believe that I possess this trait, and it is a trait that got me into some trouble as an
Assignment: Reflecting on How Your Personality Evolved
Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Walden University
PSYC 2009: Theories of Personality
Factors in Personality Development that have had the Most Influence on My Personality
If I were to choose the factors that have had the most influence on my personality
development, I would say that those factors include genetic, culture, and family.
This week, in our learning resources, we learned that personality psychologists have
pinpointed one main path through which genes affect personality, that path being temperament
(Cervone & Pervin, 2019).
Temperament refers to the biologically based behavioral and emotional tendencies seen
in early childhood (Cervone & Pervin, 2019). One example given in our resources is how people
react differently in social settings with many people they do not know (Cervone & Pervin,
2019). My father still is uncomfortable in large gatherings with people that he is not familiar
with. I was the same way growing up. It was very evident in my childhood and early
adolescence. I have learned different ways to deal with this feeling of anxiety, but it is something
that I still struggle with to this day. I believe that I received this personality trait from my father.
Another factor that I believe influenced my personality development significantly is
culture. In our learning resources this week, culture is classified under environmental
determinants of personality development (Cervone & Pervin, 2019). An article provided in our
resources this week suggests that Americans can be divided into regions of the United States by
their distinct personalities (American Psychological Association, 2013). According to this article,
people who live in the Mid-Atlantic region, such as myself, are prone to being temperamental
and express their feelings and thoughts without restraint (American Psychological Association,
2013). I believe that I possess this trait, and it is a trait that got me into some trouble as an
