[fitkoh]

So the debate is mainly as to which factor plays the more important part in our behavior and growth. Is our personality effected more by our genes or by our upbringing?

In general, I believe that human beings are mostly the same in terms of our potential for personality development as a newborn. I tend to believe that our personality is largely influenced by environmental influences compared to genetic influences. Other than extreme cases of brain disorders I don't think anyone is born with a natural tendency towards violence and aggression, nor nurturing and compassion. We are born with an appetite and curiosity, and not much else.

The exception is where genes influence environmental factors. In cases where one is born with an unusual or relatively rare genetic trait, I believe the condition of being "abnormal" or "unusual" in relation to ones peers can cause others to perceive you or treat you differently ie altering environmental influences; even something as simple as being tall or short. Also, seeing oneself as "different" might have profound effects on personality development. This is the unfortunate root of the "isms" - racism, sexism, ageism, classism, etc.

While I can't offer a solution for these types of behaviors, I am pleased to report that if historical evidence is to be believed we have made great strides in mitigating the influence these differences can have in our development. I would say we're playing on a much more level field than we were 1000 years ago. Being different matters less to personality development than it used to.

The affect of these altered environmental influences can still be hard to predict, and could manifest in a positive or negative way; but I do believe that the simple unavoidable fact of being unusual will tend to cause the individual to trend towards outlier personality traits, because human beings are subject to the inadequacies of their perceptions.