How we view ourselves and our inherent personality traits plays a role in our behavior, lifestyle choices, and overall health. Understanding how our personality drives us to our overall health and wellness decisions paves the way to making healthier choices. How were we inherently created (nature)? How do life experiences shape us (nurture)? This is the classic debate between nature vs nurture.
Temperament can be considered the foundation of personality and is closely linked to genetics. The inherited characteristics often show up first. Any parent can attest to the first signs of personality in their beautiful infants. One child is calm and able to self-soothe, while their sibling is more curious and energetic. These genetic building blocks of personality are less likely to change over time, however, traits can soften based on experience. Personality is built on both inherited personality traits and layers of experiences that shape our decision-making.
Environmental variables contributing to our personality include how we were raised with core beliefs, childhood experiences and learned behaviors, social relationships, and cultural influences. Most experts believe that personality develops over time and is a combination of genetics and environment. The progression is based on how learning and experience affect personality development. Personality differences among individuals are related to the complex interaction between genetics and life experiences.
There are many definitions of personality, however, most focus on patterns of behavior and characteristics contributing to predicting or explaining a person’s behavior. Both nature and nurture contribute to our individual personalities. These interactions lead to the belief that personalities can change through both experience and life events, and volitionally choosing to work on healthier habits based on personality characteristics. Because personality traits fall on a continuum, behavior science tells us that change is possible. While we cannot change our genetics, we can change our perspectives and attitudes as we learn and grow. It all starts with a desire to change which can lead to discovering the path toward the desired change.
Follow Back to Life Physical Therapy and Coaching Services on social media this month to learn more about personality and how it affects overall health.