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Differences in individual personalities are caused because (i) the possibilities within it are different, and (ii) the provision of raw materials and appropriate conditions of stimulation by the environment vary widely. Guilford, for example charted the magnitude of similarity of pairs of children with respects of intelligence (IQ). Similarity in heredity varied from the same child (tested twice), to identical twins to only chance similarity in a pair of unrelated children. The difference in commonality between the second and third pairs stated above demonstrates the role of the environment (rearing-practice) while the trend from pair one to pair seven shows the role of heredity
Technically, environmental factors start exerting their influence through the uterine Environment during the prenatal stage. The dietary habits, the health of the mother, etc., may Cause prevail “insult” or damage to the developing organism. Some disabilities are inflicted upon the child by uterine environmental factors. During the first month or so, varying cultural patterns can be seen to shape the physical appearance of the child. For example, tough-shaping by a strong massage of the infant’s body in the northern states of India and tender-shaping of the nose of the girl-child by strong processing in the southern states of India. As the child grows, he faces and deals with several environment factors. The child gradually Grows in complexity, supporting or contracting various factors as the environment may be varying kinds. Let us discuss some of he environmental factors to see how they affect the growing personality o f an individual. Rearing patterns: Interactions between the infant and mother for satisfaction of biological needs play a significant role in personality development. Care and affection develop a sense of Security. Over-indulgence or under-indulgence of the mother in breast-feeding would determine the “oral” personality and severity in toilet-training is the “anal” personality.
Regularity in feeding practices would develop in the child “basic trust” in the world,
Irregularity would yield “mistrust”. Similarly, toilet-mining severity may cause the child to I grow into a doubting and shameful person, training “at ease” develops autonomy.
Parent-child interaction: Once the child grows free of the needs of the mother, permanent-child Interactions assume social dimensions. Through the interactions, both the individual psyche
And the social psyche are communicated to the child and the child develops in him/her
“Individuals”.