Introduction
The impact of upbringing on personality has been a topic of intense debate for decades, with proponents of both genetic and environmental influences arguing for their significance. This article delves into how upbringing, particularly parenting, affects personality development, integrating insights from genetics, environmental factors, and adoptive studies.
The Role of Genetics
Genetics play a crucial role in determining personality traits. Studies have shown that identical twins, even when raised separately, share a high degree of physical similarity and personality traits, while adoptive children often exhibit traits similar to their biological parents rather than their adoptive parents. This points to a strong genetic foundation in personality formation.
The Influence of Environment
While genetics are influential, environmental factors, particularly those outside the family, also shape personality. For instance, military experience has been linked to lower levels of agreeableness, a dimension of the Big Five personality traits. Even years after leaving the military, individuals remain more reserved than their civilian counterparts. This long-lasting influence underscores the importance of broad environmental contexts in personality development.
Parental Influence Beyond Genetic Influence
Despite the significant role of genetics and environmental factors, the impact of upbringing, specifically parenting, should not be underestimated. Parental influence extends beyond the gene pool and environmental factors shared by adoptive families. Studies indicate that parenting has a substantial impact on a child's attitudes, beliefs, and values, even if these are not directly reflected in the Big Five or HEXACO personality traits.
The Debate and Critiques of Academic Perspectives
Alan C. Acock and others have critiqued the conclusions drawn by Judith Harris in her book "The Nurture Assumption." Harris suggested that parenting has a minimal impact on children. However, this conclusion is often counterintuitive to many and is contested by numerous studies.
One key study showed that adoptive parents' love and care can significantly reduce negative outcomes in adoptive children. Additionally, adopted children often share the religious, political, and social values of their adoptive parents, demonstrating the long-term influence of parenting. These findings challenge Harris's narrow view of parental influence.
Furthermore, even when parents are unaware of their differing attitudes towards children, these attitudes still form part of the shared environment, influencing a child's development. Any research that assumes parenting is a part of the shared environment must be critically examined.
The conclusion in Harris's book is heavily reliant on the assumption that parenting is part of the shared environment. Given this, it is prudent to question the claim that "parenting has little to do with the development of children." When cited studies showing parental influences are used as counter-evidence, it becomes clearer that parenting indeed plays a significant role in personality development.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding the impact of upbringing on personality remains complex, with both genetic and environmental factors crucial in determining personality traits. Adoptive studies and other empirical research provide compelling evidence that parenting significantly influences a child's beliefs, values, and attitudes, shaping their overall personality. It is essential to reconsider the broad influence of parenting in the development of children, taking into account the nuanced ways in which environmental factors, beyond just the gene pool, shape personality.