The Science Behind: Personality

We have all received praise for an aspect of our personality at least once in our lives. Why is your personality the way it is? What makes everyone different, and what affects and changes a person’s character?

First, what is the definition of personality? Simply put, personality refers to the set of qualities or behavioral practices that demarcate an individual from the rest of the world.

As we grow up and interact with the outer world, we develop certain attributes from our surroundings. Psychologists around the world have tried to figure out the factors which articulate an individual’s personality and behavior. They are categorized into four broad factors.


Parents and guardians play a dominant part in their child’s development. An individual’s qualities or behavior are significantly determined by the genes inherited from parents. Qualities like intellectual ability, logic power, and strong body structure develop according to genetics.


The social and economic conditions of an individual’s family have a salient role in building their personality. For example, better social or economic conditions like access to education and safe housing help a person develop in a positive manner.


It is known that humans are “social animals” and need to interact with others in order to survive. All of us have friends and family that we interact with every day.

And as the saying goes, “a man is known by the company he keeps.” The people with whom we interact shape our attitude towards the trials and tribulations of life. We all have friends with whom we can share our thoughts and experiences. During this process, we pick up habits from our friends in a conscious or unconscious manner.


Lastly, culture and ritual practices change an individual’s thoughts, which further shape their personality. People often discern their actions as right or wrong according to the specific rules of their culture.

Together, these four factors build one’s characteristics and make them who they are.

Thank you for your support and for reading this article! See you in two weeks with my next article!


Daksh Kaushik