Differences Among Common and Separate Environments
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In the realm of psychology and behavioural studies, the concepts of shared and non-shared environments play a significant role in understanding why individuals, even siblings raised together, may exhibit contrasting temperaments and interests.
Shared Environment
Shared environment refers to common factors or experiences that twins or siblings share, such as family socioeconomic status, parenting style, neighborhood, or schooling. These factors contribute to similarities between individuals raised in the same family. Examples include shared family values, behavioural patterns, and cultural norms.
Impact and Sources of Influence
The influence of shared environment is strongest during childhood, shaping the individual, but as they grow, the impact of non-shared environment becomes more prominent. In evolutionary stages, the influence of shared environment on personality development may differ.
Example
Siblings raised in a household that values academic achievement may both develop strong work ethics.
Limitations
Shared environment effects generally tend to decrease in importance with age.
Non-Shared Environment
Non-shared environment, also known as unique or unshared environment, involves experiences or events that are unique to an individual, thus contributing to differences between siblings or twins. This includes things like different peer groups, distinct life events, illnesses, or personal experiences that affect one twin but not the other.
Impact and Sources of Influence
Non-shared environmental influences often explain why genetically similar individuals raised together still differ in personality, behaviour, or traits. These influences can be both physical aspects and subjective personal experiences and interpretations of events.
Example
One sibling might become outgoing and confident due to their unique social circle, while another remains introverted due to different peer influences.
Limitations
Non-shared environment includes not only physical aspects but also subjective personal experiences and interpretations of events.
In behavioural genetics research, particularly twin studies, distinguishing these is crucial to understanding the relative roles of genetics, shared environment, and non-shared environment in shaping behaviour and psychological traits. Shared environment tends to promote similarity, while non-shared environment promotes individuality despite genetic relatedness.
The 'nature vs nurture' debate in psychology has been resolved, giving both genetics and environment similar prominence in shaping a person's behaviour. As adults, people often believe that genetic inheritance and one's own experiences (excluding upbringing) are factors that explain their behaviour.
The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, for instance, investigated how genetics and environment influence the personality of twins reared apart. Thomas Bouchard, an American psychologist and geneticist, has studied pairs of twins separated at birth to understand the influence of genetics and environment on personality.
Understanding these distinctions helps explain the diversity in personalities, preferences, and behaviours, even among individuals raised in the same family setting. It is essential to remember that while these environments play a significant role, they are not the only factors influencing human behaviour, personality, and development.
- In the realm of psychology and self-development, the distinctions between shared and non-shared environments are significant, as they help to explain variations in personality and interests among individuals, even those raised together.
- Shared environment, which includes factors like family socioeconomic status, parenting style, and schooling, shapes similarities among siblings or twins, while non-shared environment, comprising unique experiences or events, contributes to differences.
- Research in psychology and health-and-wellness, particularly twin studies, seeks to understand the roles of genetics, shared environment, and non-shared environment in shaping behavior and psychological traits, with the latter promoting individuality despite genetic relatedness.
- As adults, many people attribute their personalities, preferences, and behaviors to both genetic inheritance and personal experiences (excluding upbringing), thus embracing the perpetual influence of both 'nature' and 'nurture'.
- Whether in sports, education-and-self-development, or career-development, one's personality and behavior can be traced back to the interplay between genetics and the environments they have encountered, both shared and non-shared.
