Heredity and the Environment

In Chapter 3 we learned about how heredity (our genetics) and the environment (our family and how we were raised) can contribute to our personality and who we are today.

Think about your own genetic inheritance – what traits do you share with your parents? Genetics can include such things as eye and hair color, but many personality traits are also thought to have a genetic basis.  Genes can influence such things as whether we tend to be more anxious or relaxed and easygoing.  What part do you think your genetics play in who you are today?

Next, think about the environment in which you were brought up.  What was your family environment like?  How did your parents interact with you?  What about siblings and other family members?  What do you think you learned from peers and teachers?  What part do you think your environment played in forming your personality?

Please write 1-2 paragraphs describing how genetics and environment contributed to who you are today.   word count 300 words or more