Velarde 1 Jeramie Velarde Kade Parry English1010-060 09 November 2013

Project Personality A long debate in the world of psychology has been the argument of nature vs. nurture. What makes us the people that we are? Some believe we are entirely a product of our genetic code. These questions remain: how important is our upbringing and the influence of our parents? How much influence do we as parents actually have on our children? Many feel the power of peers is the most influential factor in childrens upbringing. Some think that womens choices during pregnancy determine how the child turns out later in life. Questions like these are constantly examined and evolving throughout time with different ways to study these subjects. Different theories have been examined and wrestled with. All these factors might play a role in the development in a childs life but what ones are most important and influential? Are we programmed by our genes? A lot research states we are predetermined by our genes. Since 1990 the Human Genome Project has been systematically identifying all the approximately twenty thousand to twenty five thousand genes in human DNAand new genes linked to various cancers, Alzheimers disease, or alcoholism. Behavioral geneticists assert that there is even a genetic basis for predispositions such as homosexuality, affection, aggression and impulsivity. (Shein, Bernstein 109) According to these studies, not only are we born with genes that could lead to disease, we also have genes that can potentially lead to behavior traits and sexual preference.

Velarde 2 Some research shows a link between genes and evil behavior, in the book Evil Genes, author Barbara Oakley states that 19% of Psychopathic traits are environment and 81% is genetic but with milder antisocial-type traits 30% is genetic and 70% environment (51, fig. 2.1) Some studies indicate if your first degree relative has borderline personality disorder, you have an 11% chance of having it yourself.(Oakley 85) One way to measure the brain of a psychopath is to scan a series of brain activity with MRI pictures taking a series of photographs.(90) It showed brain activity that very little activity when it heard words such as blood, rape and other words. Other way experts will study genetics and personality is with identical twins that are separated at birth and introduced later in life. In the article Twins: A Window into identity issues, they explore two identical twin sisters meeting for the first time at age 35. They found similarities such as; drug allergies, both studied film theory, and both made a short film. Todays experts think Identical twins share 100% of DNA. (Flam) In the book, Identical Strangers a memoir of twins separated and reunited the question was asked Is it possible that our different upbringings and environments literally shape who we are and what we look like? It goes on to explain, The answer is yes, according to a recent study conducted by an international team of scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Center in Madrid. The scientists concluded that as identical twins mature, differences in their appearances can be attributed to environmental influences. By studying the DNA of eighty pairs of identical twins between the ages of three and seventy-fourthe study showed that twins who were separated the longest had the greatest differences in their epigenom, which suggests that life experiences do indeed change your DNA. (Schein Bernstein81) In the magazine article titled The Monkeys Paw Daniel Woodss writes about twin and professor of psychology Tony Vernon. Vernon studied 500 sets of twins, some identical and

Velarde 3 some fraternal. Vernon states examples of similarities in twins such as political views, marital choices, alcoholism, and IQ. He says, "The old idea that behavior is all nurturing is gone, it's a paradigm change. There's not a single personality characteristic that doesn't show some genetic basis." (Wood ) With these studies suggesting the dominance of genes to forming the majority of ones personality, what impact does the home environment have on a childs personality? I interviewed my friend Amy Kershisnik a LCSW licensed therapist for the Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services. She said, I personally feel parents play a vital role in shaping their childs future early childhood trauma greatly shapes ones self-esteem, ability to trust and connect with others.She went on to say, Parents are their childs first teacher in life, shapingability/inability to trustcommunication, problem solving skills, self-esteem and critical thinking skills.Contradictory to the theory of genetics leading to disorders: the book the Science of Parenting author Margot Sunderland shows us that the consistency of a parents ability to manage a babys stress level can prevent the brain to suffer from disorders such as; depression, anxiety, even physical illness. (32) According to the theory of Carl Rogers, parental relationships can have effects on child development for example, if a parent has off-putting appraisals, the child could develop negativity on self image and develop insecurities. (Pervin 193) Suggested here, Parents are the primary authority on influencing sex role, socializing, providing social skills training and developing a sense of responsibility.(Guerra and BraugnartRieker) They also propose in the same article the importance parents have on influence in careers, maturation and education. In the documentary Different Strokes Laurence Steinberg PH.D says over basic values, over religious beliefs or over their sense of right or wrong, their parents are still main influence. Parents ability to challenge their children with mentally

Velarde 4 motivating home environment will see high levels of self- efficacy suggests the 2001 article by Robert H. Bradly and Robert F. Corwyn. I sat down with my boss, former elementary Principal and former middle school assistant Principal Shelly Nordick, and she said, I think of all the things that would make a difference for kids, the parents make the biggest difference...as far as students being successful at school...I think the difference is the parent, its not the school, its not even the teacher, the difference is the parent.

Another theory to examine is the role of peer influence and how much it can affect the growth of a child, especially a child reaching their adolescents. It is important to observe how much of their personality is formed by friends in the school yard, especially the older and less dependent they are on parents. In a 2001 a study diagnosed by the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, they looked at, 847 adolescence in one community to study influence from peers. Their findings ...Adolescents high on psychopathic traits do seem to establish themselves in delinquent peer groups(827) Other ways peers influence each other is in academics. In the study, Peer Influence on Adolescents for the University of Notre Dame, Lui finds that students GPA will be similar to friends GPA He also found students that went on to advance in education such as college had an influence on their friends finishing 2-4 years of college themselves. (Lui) This contradicts earlier claims that parental influence is most important in academics. Peers may be most influential with language, mostly lingo. In the article The Power of Peers it points out how influential children can be to each other. As toddlers they influence social skills and small motor skills. Experts have also stated that foreign students or immigrants pick up English fluently even if they never hear it in the home and for many later it becomes their main language. (Holcomb) I also asked my boss, former Principal Shelly Nordick to reflect

Velarde 5 on the differences between peer influences in the grade school setting opposed to the Middle school environment. She said, I think that in the elementary schools, students mimic and imitate their peers a lot its not permanent; its more of a temporary thing when they do itbut for the Middle school kids, they really make a lot of effort to fit in with their peer group. Some theories suggest that the mom has an important influence on the future of the babys health and personality while she is pregnant. In 2002 various experts: such as RN, PHDs and a registered dietician wrote an article for Canadian Journal of Public Health. In this article they recommended that every woman planning on getting pregnant or around the age of getting pregnant take a daily supplement of 400 microg of folic acid to prevent possible neural tube defects. Neural tube defects can have an impact on children developing; mental retardation, limb paralysis, and poor bladder. (Morin) According to the list from the website raisesmartkid.com some examples of the effects women can have on outcome of future personality of child. A lack of iron, calcium, and iron can cause negative effects such as: delay in language, lower IQ, and problems with behavior. Also alcohol use with pregnant women can lead to lower IQ, lack of memory and poor attention span. Joseph and Sandra Jocobson(PHDs) claim that children from mothers that drank while pregnant developed behavioral problems (282) Anny Shaw presents in the article Bacon and eggs could help pregnant women boost their babys intelligence. She cites studies by scientists at the University of North Carolina linking a chemical by the name of choline and the positive impact it has on a babys memory. I feel all these play a factor in developing personality but some are more important in different circumstances. I think environment has a big influence on molding a childs personality. I think in some cases, neglectful parenting can have a negative impact on a childs personality, and if the parents are not present or if they are hurtful towards the children, it is easy

Velarde 6 for a child to turn to his peers for influence on personality. It seems that teenage or adolescent years are the most likely for one to be influenced by peer groups. I am the step parent of a 16 year old and I find when he is around friends with manners and respectful behavior, he acts respectful. His actions also mimic the manners of his ungrateful friends when he is around them. I think for a few years the peer influence is the most important between the ages 11-17 but as children develop into adulthood, I feel, we resort back to parental influence. So in my opinion peer influence is the least effective in longevity. I think a woman can make certain choices during a pregnancy to ensure a healthy child and avoiding unhealthy things can prevent some delays in motor skills and other health issues. I think ultimately it all comes down to genetics. I think for the most part we are born who we are; society can mold us a certain degree. Maybe we inherit political bias, religious beliefs and work ethics from our parents. I feel genetics plays a much stronger part in my initial question of personality. Just from looking at the examples of family, the family I was raised in and the family I am raising. I look at the fact that my siblings and I were raised under the same roof by the same parents with the same rules and guidelines and we all turned out so much different from one and other. We all have different morals and beliefs and all have such different personality traits, I being very outspoken and outgoing, and my sister being really shy and reserved, just to give one example of many. I look at my two sons, both having the genetics of my wife and one having my genetics. It is hard to compare the two as far as behavior because of the 12 year age gap and the fact that they have different biological fathers. I look at their personalities and I feel they are who they are mostly because they were born that way. I feel we have a job as parents to show them love and give them certain rules to try to mold them into positive, nice, friendly and compassionate people. But as far as trying to mold their personalities beyond that I feel is unnecessary, I think

Velarde 7 their choices in friends, extracurricular activities, musical taste, sexual preference, college and career should and will be there choices. I think everything we encounter can have a certain affect on who we become but the fact is we are born who we are and unless we suffer from horrific events, our environment does very little to change what we are.

Velarde 8 Works Cited Beaty, Sally Different Strokes, in Inside Out 4,2006 Aquarius Health Care Media. Counseling and therapy in video. Film

Bernstein, Paula Schein, Elyse Identical Strangers a Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited 2007. 51-81-109 Published in the United States by Random House, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. Print

Bradley, Robert H., and Robert F. Corwyn. "Home Environment And Behavioral Development During Early Adolescence: The Mediating And Moderating Roles Of Self-Efficacy Beliefs." Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 47.2 (2001): 165-187. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.

Flam, Faye."Twins: A Window into Identity Issues." Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA). Dec. 2 2007: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. November 30, 2013.

Guerra, Antonia L., and Julia M. Braungart-Rieker. "Predicting Career Indecision In College Students: The Roles Of Identity Formation And Parental.." Career Development Quarterly 47.3 (1999): 255-266. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.

Holcomb, Betty. "The Power of Peers." Parenting 13.6 (1999): 110. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. Kershisnik, Amy. Personal Interview, November 26, 2013. Email

Velarde 9 Liu, G.Peer influence on adolescents' academic outcomes. (Order No. AAI3480053, Dissertation Abstracts International, A: The Humanities and Social Sciences, , 4512. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com November 14, 2013

Margaret,Kerr Stattin,Hakan Zalk, Van Psychopathic traits moderate peer Influence on adolescent delinquency the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2011 Association for Child Adolescent Mental Health.827.Ebsco Host. Web. November 14,2013. Morin, Pascale, and others. "Pregnancy Planning: A Determinant of Folic Acid Supplements Use for..." Canadian Journal of Public Health (Ottawa, Canada) Vol. 93 No.4. July/Aug. 2002: 259-263. npag SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 30 Nov 2013. Nordick, Shelly. Personal Interview, November,27 2013. Recording Oakley, Barbara Evil Genes: why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and My Sister Stole My Mothers Boyfriend 2007 pages used 85-90 Published by Prometheus Books, Amherst New York. Print Pervin Lawrence A. Personality: Theory and Research 1970-89 pages used 193 John Wiley & Sons. Print <Raisesmartkids.com> Babys brain development during pregnancy, what to avoid, what to eat. November 17, 2013

Shaw, Anny Bacon and eggs could help pregnant woman boost their babys intelligence <mailonline.com> January 6, 2010. Web

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Sunderland, Margot the Science of Parenting 2006 DK publishing New York Penguin Group page used 32. Print

Wood, Daniel. "The Monkey's Paw." Equinox (Montreal, Canada). Dec. 1998/Jan. 1999: n pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Nov 2013.

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