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Do childhood experiences determine our adult personalities?
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There is a “core” in all of us

Many people believe there is a core “you” and as you explore life, you acquire memories, beliefs, and experiences. These memories, experiences, and beliefs are a part of who you are, but just a part; the core “you” is eternal.
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The Argument

Individual differences in personality are often described on the basis of a small set of dimensional core characteristics that are often defined as consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions across time and situation. Researchers have found links between certain genes and traits. Some genes have been found to connect with extroversion and neuroticism, which can predict one’s personality.[1] Researchers have also found that genes related to neuroticism and openness to experiences were clustered together in the same regions as genes linked to certain psychiatric disorders. Other genetic correlations showed connections between extroversion and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); between openness and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; and between neuroticism and depression and anxiety.[1] In other words, the same DNA coding that helps define our personalities could also affect our likelihood of developing mental health problems. It’s not to say the genes we're born with fully define our personality and make psychiatric problems inevitable, but they do seem to have a great influence on how we develop our personality as children and adults.

Counter arguments

Premises

[P1] Personality is biologically ingrained in us at birth.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721412452557?journalCode=cdpa
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 1 Apr 2020 at 09:42 UTC

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