Individual Diffferences - How environmental factors affect...

Describe and evaluate the ways in which environmental factors can impact on the development of an individual’s personality and intelligence. The discussion in this essay entails the extent to which environmental factors impact an individual’s development of personality and intelligence. Development can be defined as ‘improvement in function’ which would imply that it occurs with the progression of age. Personality has been found to have a substantial genetic influence however economic and social factors have been found to effect the development of personality traits such as stereotypes. On the other hand, the development of an individual’s intelligence has much supporting evidence stating that environmental factors such as education have a†¦show more content†¦For example, a person who would be described as an extravert who has lively trait may experience extreme poverty leading to changes in their character therefore new traits may be portrayed in their personality. Behavioural genetics explains the development of personality and intelligence by emphasising the role of genes in guiding our behaviour in a particular context or environment. In today society, children within an institution may score differently on assessments, even when the teaching provided is the same. This questions if intelligence is innate. Other factors such as health, family circumstances, access to technology, wealth should also be considered. Research suggest that â€Å"if we were to provide all members of a population with an environment that is uniform† in regards to intelligence, then â€Å"estimates of genetic influences would increase† (Brody 1992). Biological explanations show that differences in the male and female brain suggest differences in intelligence between the sexes. However, generalising that intelligence is based on the structures of the brain would be an over simplification and attitudes to learning and environmental influences would give a better understanding. Intelligence is not simply ones IQ result but can be referred to an individual’s â€Å"intellectual functioning† (APA 2013). Environmental factors affecting intelligence are many such as nutrition, education and the environment lived in as well as having an effect on religion,