Discuss the Evidence for Biological Influence on Personality
In the early 1900s, Edward Thorndike decided to do comparative studies of twins, siblings, and unrelated individuals of family histories and school eliminations. The findings convinced him that the main factor that influences our personality is genetics. However, John B. Watson (1925) claimed that he could train any healthy, well-formed infants in his own specified world to become any type of specialist he might select. This essay will be looking into the evidence for genetic influences on personality, mainly focusing on twin, adoption, and family studies.
Twin studies play a very important role into determining whether or not personality is genetically influenced. Identical twins are siblings who share 100 percent of genes with each other. They are more or less the best participants to prove whether or not personality is genetically influenced. Fraternal twins share 50 percent of genes with each other. They are excellent participants to compare with identical twins. Twin studies generally rely on findings of identical and fraternal twins; if identical twins have more similar behaviour than non-identical twins then this provides evidence for genetics influence on personality.
James Olson et al. (2001) looked at whether attitudes are genetically influenced by evaluating earlier studies and also carried out research on identical and fraternal twins. While traditional psychological theory claimed that attitudes are learned and mostly influenced by environment, Olson et al. and colleagues argued that biological and genetic factors also influence attitudes. They assumed that genes perhaps influence natural inclinations, then environmental factors will develop different traits and attitudes.
Another interesting study by Amy Abrahamson, Laura Baker, and Avshalom Caspi (2002) looked at the genetic influences on attitudes of teenagers. The idea of their study was to investigate causes of family influence on teenagers’ social attitudes in order to understand
Twin studies play a very important role into determining whether or not personality is genetically influenced. Identical twins are siblings who share 100 percent of genes with each other. They are more or less the best participants to prove whether or not personality is genetically influenced. Fraternal twins share 50 percent of genes with each other. They are excellent participants to compare with identical twins. Twin studies generally rely on findings of identical and fraternal twins; if identical twins have more similar behaviour than non-identical twins then this provides evidence for genetics influence on personality.
James Olson et al. (2001) looked at whether attitudes are genetically influenced by evaluating earlier studies and also carried out research on identical and fraternal twins. While traditional psychological theory claimed that attitudes are learned and mostly influenced by environment, Olson et al. and colleagues argued that biological and genetic factors also influence attitudes. They assumed that genes perhaps influence natural inclinations, then environmental factors will develop different traits and attitudes.
Another interesting study by Amy Abrahamson, Laura Baker, and Avshalom Caspi (2002) looked at the genetic influences on attitudes of teenagers. The idea of their study was to investigate causes of family influence on teenagers’ social attitudes in order to understand
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