Personality The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character It is all the qualities that make someone interesting

Nature vs. Nurture Human Behavior

Where does our personality come from? Nature: It’s genetic You were “born that way” It is inherited from one or both parents Nurture: It’s environmental You’ve acquired it because of life experiences and circumstances

Nature vs. Nurture Worksheet

TAKE A STAND Do you think personality is more nature, or more nurture? You can either be AT either sign or somewhere in-between. You’ll have to justify why you’re standing where you are

Check for understanding In the discussion of nature vs. nurture, nurture refers to: That which is inherited/genetic All environmental influence and experiences

Siblings (NPR.org) Siblings “…in terms of personality, we are similar to our siblings only about 20 percent of the time. Given the fact that we share genes, homes, routines and parents, this makes no sense. What makes children in the same family so different?” (NPR.org) Siblings (NPR.org)

Theory One: Divergence “Siblings want to separate from each other”

Theory Two: Environment "Children grow up in different families because most siblings differ in age, and so the timing with which you go through your family's [major events] is different. “Children in the same family are rarely treated the same by their parents”

Theory Three: Exaggeration “Families are essentially comparison machines that greatly exaggerate even minor differences between siblings”