Personality Theories Personality Is a Essay

R Harris "believes that parent do not shape their child's personality or character" (Lee, 2003) rather, it is the child's peers who hold more influence on the child. According to Harris, children do not use all the information they have learned from their parents. In general, children behave in the manner which they have learned from people in their social group.

According to Haimowitz, family environment does not contribute much to a child personality and his or her risk for a disorder such as schizophrenia. In a study conducted among adopted-away children whose biological mothers suffered from schizophrenia, results show that "several of the adopted away children of schizophrenic mothers suffered from schizophrenia themselves, while the adoptees whose parents didn't have schizophrenia also did not have schizophrenia themselves" (Haimowitz, 2005). This study espouses the theory that environment does not play a big role in an individual's personality rather biological influences or genetics play an important part.

There also exists a theoretical perspective which views personality as a result of biological responses. The PEN model advocated by Eysenck provides a three -dimensional description of personality by looking into "psychophysiological, hormonal, and other biological mechanisms responsible for the personality dimensions." (Jang, 1998) According to Popkins (1998), how others treat an individual affects a person's personality.Moreover, appearance also affects a person's personality because "physical appearance affects the environment that in turn affects personality." (Popkins, 1998) Popkins argues further that because of societal stereotypes on what is considered as good-looking, people are treated differently. Those who are considered good-looking are treated as "social superiors" (Popkins, 1998) and those who are considered as unattractive are treated as inferior.

References

Beystehner, K.M. (1998). Psychoanalysis: Freud's Revolutionary Approach to Human Personality. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/beystehner.html

Cardillo, M. (1998). Intimate Relationships: Personality Development Through Interaction During Early Life. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/cardillo.html

Haimowitz, A.G. (2005). Heredity vs. Environment: Twin, Adoption, and Family Studies. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/haimowitz.html#blout

Jang, K. (1998). Eysenck's PEN Model: It's Contribution to Personality Psychology. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jang.html

Lee, E.J. (2003). The Attachment System Throughout the Life Course: Review and Criticisms of Attachment Theory. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/lee.html

Popkins, N.C. (1998). Natural Characteristics That Influence Environment: How Physical Appearance Affects Personality. Retrieved July 17, 2009, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/popkins2.html.....