Personal development
Which has the greater effect on human development: heredity or
environment? Scholars have debated this question for years. Almost all
experts would agree, however, that the effects of your heredity cannot
be easily separated from the impact of your environment. You are a
product of the interaction between the two. Your hereditary traits affect
your functioning within your environment, and your environment
affects the development and expression of your inherited traits.
Evidence of this interaction is all around you. Look, for instance,
at the highlights that enhance the hair of some of your friends. Those
highlights may be achieved by many hours of exposure to the sun’s rays
or simply by a chemical treatment. In either case, the inherited hair color
is changed by environmental factors.
Your Family
Your Family The family provides the single most important environmental
influence on a child’s personality development. It is within the family
that the infant first learns to love and trust others. This sense of trust is
gained in the early years through the love and consistent responses of
the baby’s caregiver. Family members also shape the child’s personality
development through the beliefs and behaviors they impart to the child.
In a positive and nurturing family environment, children learn
they are loved. Because they know they are loved, they are able to take
the psychological risks necessary to learn new things. They know the
important thing is to try their best. If they fail, their family will be there
to comfort them and help them try again.
As children grow, they learn to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
They learn to be considerate of other family members and to treat others
as they themselves would like to be treated. This understanding
influences
the environment which children later provide as adults
for their own children. Thus, positive (or negative) family beliefs and
behaviors are often passed from generation to generation.
Relating to Authority Figures
It is important for children and teens to learn to relate well to
parents and other authority figures because authority fi gures are an
ever-present part of life. Almost everyone is accountable to someone.
Workers must report to supervisors. Elected officials must be responsive
to the people who elected them. Even a company president must
answer to a board of directors. Later in life, you are likely to become an
authority figure yourself—perhaps as a parent or work supervisor.
Being in a position of authority can be a very difficult
job that carries a lot of responsibility. As an authority
figure, you are often responsible for the safety and actions
of others. Authority figures, however, are not perfect. They
make mistakes at times, but they try their best, just as you
will when it is your turn to be “in charge.”
Some teens have difficulty accepting guidance
from people in authority. They may question and
disagree with their decisions. However, it is important
to remember that authority figures are doing their jobs.
Even if you disagree, you can still be cooperative, accept
their decisions gracefully, and learn from them. Then,
when you are in charge, you can be prepared to exert authority fairly
and effectively.
Family cultural patterns
What do you know about your family background? In what country
did your ancestors live? One of the most interesting and enriching parts of
life is to look into your past and see how your ancestors lived their lives.
The total social environment of a people or group is called its
culture.
Our society is
culturally diverse
. It is made up of families
representing many different cultures. Successive generations blend
these cultural characteristics into their current way of life. They
celebrate their individual cultural backgrounds while also respecting
the many things they have in common with society as a whole.
Each family learns its customary beliefs and modes of behavior from
its country or countries of origin. Are you aware of how your cultural background influences your life? Special holiday
traditions, foods, heirlooms, and ancestral
costumes all remind you of your cultural
heritage.It is interesting to note ways in
which a family’s cultural heritage
may influence family relationships.
For example, some families are
influenced by cultures in which
family members prefer not to show
their affection for one another
outwardly. In contrast, families from
other cultures may like to show their
affection openly.
Families from some cultures tend to
place a high level of importance on close,
frequent interaction, even after children
have become adults. Adult children and parents
may contact one another or get together several
times a week. Much of their leisure time is spent
in family-centered social events. In other, equally
loving families, contact among family members is
less frequent.
Appreciating Cultural Diversity
Family traditions and customs help make each family unique.
However, people can benefit from learning about the values, beliefs, and
behaviors of families in other cultures. To expand your appreciation of
cultural diversity, you could try to learn a different language. You could
make an effort to enjoy the food dishes of other cultures. You could take
time to learn about the ways other cultures observe family events such
as births and weddings. Even everyday events such as family mealtimes
refl ect cultural practices. Studying the modern dress and traditional folk
costumes of various cultures also provides an interesting perspective.
In this culturally diverse world, it is important to appreciate the
contributions of cultures other than your own. If you know someone
from another culture, knowledge of that person’s background may be
helpful in understanding him or her. Learning about other cultures will
also be useful to you when you enter the workforce. Developing an
understanding and appreciation of various cultures can help you get
along with others and be more effective in your work relationships.
Your Peers
The influence of your
peer group
(people about your own age) may
currently be one of the strongest forces in your life. Your family will
continue to be a strong influence, but your peers will also emerge as an
important force. The impact of the two influences will vary as you pass
through different developmental stages of your life.
Peer Influence During Adolescence
At this time of your life, your peers are probably very important
to you. You share many experiences with them that contribute to
the development of your personality. Your friends can be a source of
strength and reinforcement. Such peer influence is natural and even
essential in the development of healthy adolescents.
As an adolescent, you are searching for an identity (sense of who
you are) and social acceptance. You are particularly vulnerable to
peer pressure.
Peer pressure
is the influence exerted by a person’s age
group. Many young people go along with their peers’ choices, thinking
they are asserting their individuality. In reality, they are conforming to
(fitting in with) the decisions made by others.
Peer pressure is a powerful force in establishing conformity,
especially during the adolescent years. Most people want to be accepted
by their peers. However, if your choices simply reflect your friends’
choices, you will not be learning the process of decision making. You
may become dependent on others to make your decisions for you. It is
important to remember that you can make your own choices. You should
not have to conform to the choices of your peers to be accepted by them.
If your friends are influencing you toward behaviors that go against
what you think is right, it will be necessary for you to stand up for what
you believe. Those peers who are truly your friends will admire you
more for adhering to your convictions.
Loyalties between your friends and you may be tested if they have
principles unlike yours. If you become aware that your principles are
quite different from those of your friends, you may wish to become
closer to people with whom you have more in common.
Learn to identify and live by your own beliefs. If they are similar to
those of your friends, it simply indicates your ideas and lifestyles are
similar. Your choices should be your own, though you can benefit from
sharing ideas with others.
Your Education
Your educational environment provides another important influence
on your personality development. A positive school environment provides
you with information and problem-solving skills. It also gives you a
sense of yourself as a learner. Whether your individual learning style is fast
or slow is of minor significance. The important thing is that you learn to
the best of your ability. An appreciation for learning will equip you to seek
information to help you solve problems throughout life.
A positive educational environment teaches other useful skills as
well. Students learn to relate effectively to authority figures, such as teachers, coaches, and club sponsors. In competitive
events, students see the importance of playing by the
rules. They observe the role authority figures play in
enforcing the rules fairly. Occasionally, students observe
situations in which life is not fair, and they learn to live
with those occurrences, too.
The classroom provides an arena in which you
learn to compete and cooperate with others. You are
also presented with opportunities to develop and test
beliefs of right and wrong, such as deciding whether or
not to cheat on an exam. All of these experiences and
opportunities help you develop your personality. They
also provide a valuable training ground for later life.
Your Religion
The role that religion may play in your life is one of the most personal
elements in your environment. Religion means different things to
different people. For some people, religion provides a sense of meaning
and purpose in life. It offers psychological security, which can be helpful
in living life and facing death. People may also feel their religious faith
offers them moral and ethical direction as they strive to reach their goals
and become responsible family and community members.
Many teens uphold the religious beliefs they learned in their
childhood. Others who did not have early religious training may begin
investigating religious beliefs during their teen years. If religion is one
of your priorities, you may be influenced by it throughout your life.
Your Community and World
The world is constantly changing. The social and economic conditions
that affected your grandparents or even your parents have changed. The
trends affecting you today may not affect your children or grandchildren.
Each generation develops within its own set of environmental conditions.
The Media
Probably one of the most significant influences on your personality
development is that of the mass media. Television, movies, magazines,
newspapers, and the Internet are only a few examples of such media. It
is unrealistic for adults to think that youth can be totally protected from
exposure to media influences. However, parents have a responsibility to
exert some guidance in this area.
The media are an important source of both information and
entertainment. For example, educational programs, news reports, and
political analyses keep you informed. The mass media provide ways of
learning about the world. However, you should make no apology for
avoiding programs or other material that can disturb or upset you or
harm your personality development.
You have a responsibility to protect yourself from the desensitizing
effects of viewing too much violence or other unwholesome
programming. Some studies indicate that young people exposed to
violent television programs have a tendency to exhibit more aggressive
behavior in real life. Whether or not this is true in all cases, few would
argue that a steady diet of violence in TV programs, computer games, or
movies is healthy.
The more violence you see, the less sensitive you may become to your
own and others’ physical and emotional pain. The less sensitive you are,
the less skilled you will be at forming and maintaining
close personal relationships.
Similarly, the more antisocial behavior you see on
TV or in movies, the more you may think that such
behavior is expected. You may subconsciously begin to
view antisocial behavior as the norm rather than as a
bad part of an otherwise good society. These are only a
few of the many reasons for limiting your exposure to
violence. Similar arguments could be made for content
glorifying sexual violence, materialism, dishonesty,
self centeredness, and other behavior.
Try to interact with the media material you see
rather than passively absorbing it. Ask yourself, “What
is the message I am supposed to be getting?” “Do I agree with this message?” “What kind of society would we have if everyone
agreed with this message?”
Finally, think about the amount of time you are giving to being
entertained and influenced by the mass media. Evaluate this time
commitment in light of your overall goals. Ask yourself, “Is this game
worth the time it is taking me to play it?” “Would I feel better about
myself if I were doing something else?”
Sometimes it takes willpower to turn off the TV or computer or to
walk out of a movie. People who do so are often pleasantly surprised
at how much they can accomplish toward worthwhile goals by putting
their time to other uses.
Which has the greater effect on human development: heredity or
environment? Scholars have debated this question for years. Almost all
experts would agree, however, that the effects of your heredity cannot
be easily separated from the impact of your environment. You are a
product of the interaction between the two. Your hereditary traits affect
your functioning within your environment, and your environment
affects the development and expression of your inherited traits.
Evidence of this interaction is all around you. Look, for instance,
at the highlights that enhance the hair of some of your friends. Those
highlights may be achieved by many hours of exposure to the sun’s rays
or simply by a chemical treatment. In either case, the inherited hair color
is changed by environmental factors.
Your Family
Your Family The family provides the single most important environmental
influence on a child’s personality development. It is within the family
that the infant first learns to love and trust others. This sense of trust is
gained in the early years through the love and consistent responses of
the baby’s caregiver. Family members also shape the child’s personality
development through the beliefs and behaviors they impart to the child.
In a positive and nurturing family environment, children learn
they are loved. Because they know they are loved, they are able to take
the psychological risks necessary to learn new things. They know the
important thing is to try their best. If they fail, their family will be there
to comfort them and help them try again.
As children grow, they learn to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
They learn to be considerate of other family members and to treat others
as they themselves would like to be treated. This understanding
influences
the environment which children later provide as adults
for their own children. Thus, positive (or negative) family beliefs and
behaviors are often passed from generation to generation.
Relating to Authority Figures
It is important for children and teens to learn to relate well to
parents and other authority figures because authority fi gures are an
ever-present part of life. Almost everyone is accountable to someone.
Workers must report to supervisors. Elected officials must be responsive
to the people who elected them. Even a company president must
answer to a board of directors. Later in life, you are likely to become an
authority figure yourself—perhaps as a parent or work supervisor.
Being in a position of authority can be a very difficult
job that carries a lot of responsibility. As an authority
figure, you are often responsible for the safety and actions
of others. Authority figures, however, are not perfect. They
make mistakes at times, but they try their best, just as you
will when it is your turn to be “in charge.”
Some teens have difficulty accepting guidance
from people in authority. They may question and
disagree with their decisions. However, it is important
to remember that authority figures are doing their jobs.
Even if you disagree, you can still be cooperative, accept
their decisions gracefully, and learn from them. Then,
when you are in charge, you can be prepared to exert authority fairly
and effectively.
Family cultural patterns
What do you know about your family background? In what country
did your ancestors live? One of the most interesting and enriching parts of
life is to look into your past and see how your ancestors lived their lives.
The total social environment of a people or group is called its
culture.
Our society is
culturally diverse
. It is made up of families
representing many different cultures. Successive generations blend
these cultural characteristics into their current way of life. They
celebrate their individual cultural backgrounds while also respecting
the many things they have in common with society as a whole.
Each family learns its customary beliefs and modes of behavior from
its country or countries of origin. Are you aware of how your cultural background influences your life? Special holiday
traditions, foods, heirlooms, and ancestral
costumes all remind you of your cultural
heritage.It is interesting to note ways in
which a family’s cultural heritage
may influence family relationships.
For example, some families are
influenced by cultures in which
family members prefer not to show
their affection for one another
outwardly. In contrast, families from
other cultures may like to show their
affection openly.
Families from some cultures tend to
place a high level of importance on close,
frequent interaction, even after children
have become adults. Adult children and parents
may contact one another or get together several
times a week. Much of their leisure time is spent
in family-centered social events. In other, equally
loving families, contact among family members is
less frequent.
Appreciating Cultural Diversity
Family traditions and customs help make each family unique.
However, people can benefit from learning about the values, beliefs, and
behaviors of families in other cultures. To expand your appreciation of
cultural diversity, you could try to learn a different language. You could
make an effort to enjoy the food dishes of other cultures. You could take
time to learn about the ways other cultures observe family events such
as births and weddings. Even everyday events such as family mealtimes
refl ect cultural practices. Studying the modern dress and traditional folk
costumes of various cultures also provides an interesting perspective.
In this culturally diverse world, it is important to appreciate the
contributions of cultures other than your own. If you know someone
from another culture, knowledge of that person’s background may be
helpful in understanding him or her. Learning about other cultures will
also be useful to you when you enter the workforce. Developing an
understanding and appreciation of various cultures can help you get
along with others and be more effective in your work relationships.
Your Peers
The influence of your
peer group
(people about your own age) may
currently be one of the strongest forces in your life. Your family will
continue to be a strong influence, but your peers will also emerge as an
important force. The impact of the two influences will vary as you pass
through different developmental stages of your life.
Peer Influence During Adolescence
At this time of your life, your peers are probably very important
to you. You share many experiences with them that contribute to
the development of your personality. Your friends can be a source of
strength and reinforcement. Such peer influence is natural and even
essential in the development of healthy adolescents.
As an adolescent, you are searching for an identity (sense of who
you are) and social acceptance. You are particularly vulnerable to
peer pressure.
Peer pressure
is the influence exerted by a person’s age
group. Many young people go along with their peers’ choices, thinking
they are asserting their individuality. In reality, they are conforming to
(fitting in with) the decisions made by others.
Peer pressure is a powerful force in establishing conformity,
especially during the adolescent years. Most people want to be accepted
by their peers. However, if your choices simply reflect your friends’
choices, you will not be learning the process of decision making. You
may become dependent on others to make your decisions for you. It is
important to remember that you can make your own choices. You should
not have to conform to the choices of your peers to be accepted by them.
If your friends are influencing you toward behaviors that go against
what you think is right, it will be necessary for you to stand up for what
you believe. Those peers who are truly your friends will admire you
more for adhering to your convictions.
Loyalties between your friends and you may be tested if they have
principles unlike yours. If you become aware that your principles are
quite different from those of your friends, you may wish to become
closer to people with whom you have more in common.
Learn to identify and live by your own beliefs. If they are similar to
those of your friends, it simply indicates your ideas and lifestyles are
similar. Your choices should be your own, though you can benefit from
sharing ideas with others.
Your Education
Your educational environment provides another important influence
on your personality development. A positive school environment provides
you with information and problem-solving skills. It also gives you a
sense of yourself as a learner. Whether your individual learning style is fast
or slow is of minor significance. The important thing is that you learn to
the best of your ability. An appreciation for learning will equip you to seek
information to help you solve problems throughout life.
A positive educational environment teaches other useful skills as
well. Students learn to relate effectively to authority figures, such as teachers, coaches, and club sponsors. In competitive
events, students see the importance of playing by the
rules. They observe the role authority figures play in
enforcing the rules fairly. Occasionally, students observe
situations in which life is not fair, and they learn to live
with those occurrences, too.
The classroom provides an arena in which you
learn to compete and cooperate with others. You are
also presented with opportunities to develop and test
beliefs of right and wrong, such as deciding whether or
not to cheat on an exam. All of these experiences and
opportunities help you develop your personality. They
also provide a valuable training ground for later life.
Your Religion
The role that religion may play in your life is one of the most personal
elements in your environment. Religion means different things to
different people. For some people, religion provides a sense of meaning
and purpose in life. It offers psychological security, which can be helpful
in living life and facing death. People may also feel their religious faith
offers them moral and ethical direction as they strive to reach their goals
and become responsible family and community members.
Many teens uphold the religious beliefs they learned in their
childhood. Others who did not have early religious training may begin
investigating religious beliefs during their teen years. If religion is one
of your priorities, you may be influenced by it throughout your life.
Your Community and World
The world is constantly changing. The social and economic conditions
that affected your grandparents or even your parents have changed. The
trends affecting you today may not affect your children or grandchildren.
Each generation develops within its own set of environmental conditions.
The Media
Probably one of the most significant influences on your personality
development is that of the mass media. Television, movies, magazines,
newspapers, and the Internet are only a few examples of such media. It
is unrealistic for adults to think that youth can be totally protected from
exposure to media influences. However, parents have a responsibility to
exert some guidance in this area.
The media are an important source of both information and
entertainment. For example, educational programs, news reports, and
political analyses keep you informed. The mass media provide ways of
learning about the world. However, you should make no apology for
avoiding programs or other material that can disturb or upset you or
harm your personality development.
You have a responsibility to protect yourself from the desensitizing
effects of viewing too much violence or other unwholesome
programming. Some studies indicate that young people exposed to
violent television programs have a tendency to exhibit more aggressive
behavior in real life. Whether or not this is true in all cases, few would
argue that a steady diet of violence in TV programs, computer games, or
movies is healthy.
The more violence you see, the less sensitive you may become to your
own and others’ physical and emotional pain. The less sensitive you are,
the less skilled you will be at forming and maintaining
close personal relationships.
Similarly, the more antisocial behavior you see on
TV or in movies, the more you may think that such
behavior is expected. You may subconsciously begin to
view antisocial behavior as the norm rather than as a
bad part of an otherwise good society. These are only a
few of the many reasons for limiting your exposure to
violence. Similar arguments could be made for content
glorifying sexual violence, materialism, dishonesty,
self centeredness, and other behavior.
Try to interact with the media material you see
rather than passively absorbing it. Ask yourself, “What
is the message I am supposed to be getting?” “Do I agree with this message?” “What kind of society would we have if everyone
agreed with this message?”
Finally, think about the amount of time you are giving to being
entertained and influenced by the mass media. Evaluate this time
commitment in light of your overall goals. Ask yourself, “Is this game
worth the time it is taking me to play it?” “Would I feel better about
myself if I were doing something else?”
Sometimes it takes willpower to turn off the TV or computer or to
walk out of a movie. People who do so are often pleasantly surprised
at how much they can accomplish toward worthwhile goals by putting
their time to other uses.
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