Genetic or Later life experience??

Question

Topic: Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life.
With the development of science and technology, the knowledge of genetic and its great influential impact on one’s characteristic has accumulated and recognized. Thus, some people state that the genetic influence on a person’s character is far greater than any experiences he or she may have in the life that contribute to it. In other words, genetic factor dominate while outside factors contribute little or nothing on our personality. However, I’m not totally agree with this view. While genetic that we are born with do play critical role in human’s personality and development, life experiences and education still hold their vital ground.

What's your opinion?

Answer 1

My opinion does not matter. The real research shows that about 40% of the VARIENCE in personality is genetic and about 10% ( stretching it ) VARIENCE is due to the shared enviroment. Then about 50% VARIENCE is due to the unique enviroment. To say that anything is directly enviromental or genetic ( whatever that would mean ) is incoherent. If the effects of the genes are greater than 0, then we do not know if all a persons personality is genetic, enviromental, both, or neither. The effects of the genes are probabilistic, not deterministic.
I suggest you educate yourself in both genetic and enviromental influences to a real understanding of the work being done in this area. It is " nature via nuture "; it is not a dichotomy.

Answer 2

genetics to me seem to be the basis for human characteristics. but on that same note later life experiences play a major factor on detailed personality traits. even though genetics may guide an individual in one direction, the personal characteristics i think would ultimately be derived from the education and/or life experiences they encounter throughout life. as those experiences are lets say downloaded into the genes and handed down to the next generation we begin to see what darwin seen on the galapagos islands, which happens to be evolutionary change. so as experience and/or education play a major role in an individual life the characteristics passed on through the generations will dictate what becomes of that line of life as a whole.

Answer 3

The keyword is "indicates".
I believe that genetics determine a great deal of ones personality, but how on earth can we just disregard life experiences?
This would mean that abused children, Holocaust Survivors and people like Anna Nicole Smith were unfazed by their experiences, all because of genetics.
I am wary of any study that claims to 'prove' an either/or proposition.
Good question.
Good luck

Answer 4

I agree with you. My father was an "Archie Bunker" type and I am not at all like that. It's like a poker game. You are dealt a hand. You decide how you choose to play your cards.