Many people believe that our personality and development is influenced by our innate nature while others consider that our life experiences play a major role in shaping our personality. I personally consider life experiences and external factors more influential in building ones character as compared to our inherent traits.
To embark with, as the research suggest our innate nature holds a pivotal role in building our character . As studied through genetics, certain genes are responsible for deciding our temperament, cognitive abilities and predisposition to certain behaviours such as social interactions throughout our life that are inherited by birth. Social behaviour like introversion and extroversion are also influenced by innate inclination. For instance , a study on Minnesota twins showed that they exhibited same interest , personality traits and life choices even after being seperated from a young age . Thus genetics factors play a significant role in influencing one’s personality development.
On the other hand , environmental factors change our personality traits over time . Inhereted characteristics build our disposition only for a few year after which life experiences such as upbringing, education, culture , life challenges and obstacles effect and change our nature comprehensively, as individual who are brought up in a notable family and had systematic education shows better competence and self esteem , also culture often modify our social relationships. Overcoming life challenges and learning coping mechanism also contribute to developing resilience over time , a great example for the same would be Oprah Winfrey who experienced poverty and hardships in her early life that shaped her personality and motivated her to kindle the drive for success and develop empathy through the struggle. Hence life experiences are relevantly more responsible to develop our character.
To encapsulate, although there is always a dynamic interaction between nature and nurture , life lessons and environmental factors greatly affect our development in character and personality as compared to innate characteristics.