Is our personality determined by our surroundings?
 

In other words... "If you lived my life, would you be the same?"

I was thinking about it yesterday after shower. I had another topic to add to the debate section, but one is enough for now. :D

Well, I'd say that certainly our surroundings influence who we are, and that includes the people we grow up knowing. However, I wouldn't say that personality is completely dependent on surroundings. Maybe I'll write more later but that's my really quick two cents for now.

I'd say it's more "influenced" by our surroundings.

It's surroundings, genetics, etc. A little bit of everything, but not entirely anything.

This is pretty much an empirical fact actually. There have been all kinds of studies related to the different aspects of this question (such as with identical twins and what not).

Do you think this also relates to existence of soul?

well if we're not just empty shells that get filled with impulses from the outer world which would result in our actions, doesn't that say there's also an individual soul present in the consciousness, or is that just a factor of randomness that plays part in the course of our actions?

What do you mean by a soul?

...a soul?

It means different things to different people. Personally, I don't believe anything external to the body exists, but you probably think differently.

Determined - no. Influenced, certainly.

Some elements are genetic, such as intelligence, but whether someone lives up to their genetic potential is based on their life as well.

Traits such as likes and dislikes are likely to have a larger influenced component, but there have still been many studies showing genetic predispositions within all sorts of tastes and interests.

Someone's personality could only be majorly influenced in development, me thinks. Maybe as time and surrounding changes there might be some small differ in their personality.

this one doesn't fit lol ;)

If you have weak self respect , you will adapt to your surroundings and accept values that you would otherwise despise in order to belong to a group , some stay that way , some gain the ability to self reflect and to evaluate things such as values , morals etc. , your surroundings sure does have an impact on the beginning of your life aswell as the people you are surrounding yourself with but in the end , you decide for yourself who you want to be , or not to be.

What do you mean by personality?

If you mean if we are shy, outgoing, extrovert, introvert, reserved or reckless. I think our base personality is probably influcenced 75%/25% on birth/surroundings.

If you mean moral and ethical philosophy. I think that is based principally on cultural influences whether that comes from family, peer group, community or state. Although there will always be part of an individual who thinks differently from the rest.

I fully agree with you here. In a bigger picture, it's kind of how we're developing as a species as well. We adapted to what Earth has, formed groups, and now we are beginning to question if the way we are living is really correct. Earth started us off, but only now might we have the chance to become self aware after we've lived here for a while and consciously take care of things :hmm:

I think our personality is defined by quite a few things, surroundings, culture and genetics being a large part of it. However as Andi has said, an individual personality can be quite different from the surroundings...
I suppose a personality is one of those things that are hard to predict..

Even in random factors, there are predictable genetic elements. More intelligent people on average have more intelligent children, although the actual result is also based on how they grow up.

Though identical twins that are brought up apart from each other are less like each other than ones that are raised in the same home.

Yes, but they still show clear physical, personality and intellectual similarities past personal taste.