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Nature/nurture in shaping a child's personality

10 replies

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 05/09/2020 10:37

Where do you fall in the nature/nurture debate as to Which is more influential in shaping a child's personality?

DC1 is quiet, cautious and generally quite a sensitive child. Enjoys the quieter pursuits - reading, playing with toys, cuddles etc. Does enjoy playing outside but isn't boisterous/loud/running around all the time - prefers to play in the water tray, with the dinosaurs, blow bubbles etc. DC2 is newborn so it's too early to know what their personality is like.
SIl is desperately for DC2 to be like their children - adventurous, loud, always on the go, a little boisterously at times - jumping on each other etc.

DH and I are also quite quiet, reserved and cautious, much in the way that DC1 is. I'm hoping that DC2 grows up with a similar personality.

Sister and I are very similar - also best friends and very close. A lot of people comment on our bond.

SIL is lovely, but her and DH are very different.

I've always thought nurture is stronger than nature, but their relationship has me wondering.

What do you think? Are your DC like chalk and cheese? What about you and your siblings?

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LemonPeonies · 05/09/2020 11:59

I only have one 9mo so can only comment from me and my siblings experience. Me and my older DSis are quite loud, confident etc. Younger DSis and DBrother are more quiet and sensitive. My DM is confident but not overly loud and my DF is the same so I'm not sure! 😂

icelollies · 05/09/2020 19:39

No, nature all the way!

Nurture can help shape what is already there, allow it to be expressed or inhibited but I think it would take a lot to change my boisterous son into a quiet one who prefers reading and colouring (as much as i would love him to!)

Your DS2 will be who he is, and of course you will love him dearly for it!

Bubbletrouble43 · 05/09/2020 19:51

I was a big believer in nurture until I had twins. These 2 are being brought up in exactly the same environment at the same time but the differences in their characters and abilities is quite remarkable eg one is highly reactive and emotional the other is calm, one is cooperative and helpful the other ( calm) one is lazy, just lots of things.

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ScarMatty · 05/09/2020 20:20

Going against the grain here but I would say 70% nurture 30% nature.

As a teacher I've seen the huge impact parenting can have no matter what environment a child is placed in

imamearcat · 05/09/2020 20:38

I think personality is all nature really and then the nurture part of it is shaping their behaviour, working on anything they find difficult etc. But not really changing their personality as such.

My DD and DS are quite different. DD is very sensitive DS is more relaxed.

jackfruitz · 05/09/2020 20:43

I am similar to my mum in that we’re both very outgoing and quite loud, whereas my brother and sister are very quiet and introverted like my dad. I have a friend who was adopted and found out she had two sisters who were given up for adoption too. They were brought up in different countries by different families but they all have the same mannerisms (it was uncanny!) so I believe nature does play a big part of it. However as a strong believer of attachment parenting I think that has a huge impact on a child’s personality too.

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 05/09/2020 20:47

DS isn’t a boisterous kid, never has been. He’s been in a Forest School nursery since he was 12 months old (so been there 2 years now) and he still hates getting wet or dirty and will fuss about a speck on his clothes and asks it to be changed, it funny about textures etc. No amount of chucking him outdoors in all weathers and muddy play has changed that. I’d say that’s his nature and all the nurture at nursery has failed to change that. Both play a factor but I think a child’s underlying personality will always have some nature factors which won’t change.

OverTheRainbow88 · 05/09/2020 20:50

I think it’s a mix. My 2 boys couldn’t be more different. 1- chilled, calm, sensitive, 2- boisterous, quite aggressive, can’t sit still!!

WitchSharkadder · 05/09/2020 20:50

I think that nature is a big factor but nurture will bring or suppress aspects of a person's inherent personality.

Saying that, I have two siblings, one is very similar to me and one very different. The latter was raised part from us other tow though. However, my 4 children are all completely different and have been raised the same. I like to think I saw each of their individual, inherent strengths and tried to nurture them while supporting overcoming weaknesses.

Someyoulose · 05/09/2020 20:54

It’s been shown that your main personality traits are all genetic. I really don’t know how important nurture is once you rule out extremes like abuse.

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