The Biological Basis for Personality

Paper Summary:

This paper is based on the premise that personality development is affected by the environmental cues an individual experiences throughout his or her life, within the confines of the genetic predisposition. It analyzes this perspective by focusing on two critical points. It discusses that there is an emerging consensus as to what constitutes the fundamental dimensions of personality traits and it suggests that these traits have a strong biological and evolutionary basis.

From the Paper:

"Though it can be difficult to accept from a philosophical perspective, the evidence gleaned from several large twin studies clearly concludes that genetics plays a significant role in determining personality, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all observed personality differences. With such a significant influence, it becomes evidence that the role of the environment is greatly diminished and likely only affects how biological personality traits will express themselves, not which traits will develop. From a practical perspective, this means that clinicians must shift from an environmental control model of treatment to one that more fully addresses the basic biological underpinnings of personality development and personality disorders."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bouchard, T.J. (1994, June 17). Genes, environment, and personality. Science, 264(5166), pp. 1700-1701.
• Evolution of animal personalities. (2007, May 30). Science Daily. Retrieved June 14, 2007, from "http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070530132400.htm" http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070530132400.htm
• Neill, J. (2006, April 3). Evolution, inheritance, & personality. Retrieved June 14, 2007, from "http://wilderdom.com/personality/L7-2EvolutionPersonality.html" http://wilderdom.com/personality/L7-2EvolutionPersonality.html
• Segal, N.L. and MacDonald, K.B. (1998, April). Behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology: unified perspective on personality research. Human Biology. Retrieved June 14, 2007, from "http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3659/is_199804/ai_n8795273/print" http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3659/is_199804/ai_n8795273/print
• Sherman, C. (2002, December). Biology plays key role in borderline personality. Clinical Psychiatry News, 30(12), p. 58.

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