Question

Behavior emerges from the interplay of external and internal influences, and it is _____ that determine(s) which personality traits are culturally desirable.

Answer 1

Cultural norms govern which personality traits are considered desirable in a given society, contributing to the nature versus nurture debate in personality development. While some personality traits may be universal, others are specific to cultural contexts, emphasizing the complex interplay between genetics (nature) and environment (nurture).

Step-by-step explanation:

Behavior emerges from the interplay of external and internal influences, and it is cultural norms that determine which personality traits are culturally desirable. Cultural norms dictate the beliefs, customs, art, and traditions of a particular society, influencing personality through language and the modeling of behaviors that are rewarded or punished. This contributes to the debate of nature versus nurture in personality development, where nature refers to the inherited genetic traits and nurture to the environmental and cultural influences. Psychologists study these dynamics to understand personality traits across different cultures, acknowledging that while some aspects of personality are universal, others may be culture-specific.

For example, extroversion may be less desirable in collectivist Asian cultures, while openness to experience tends to be higher in Central and South American cultures. Ultimately, the ongoing interaction between our genetic predispositions (nature) and our cultural context (nurture) shapes our personalities, though the relative contributions of each continue to be a subject of research and discussion.

Answer 2

And it is social-cultural influences that determine(s) which personality traits are culturally desirable.
Because of this, certain actions may be condemned within a certain society while being praised in others. For example, women driving is condemned in the middle east while supported in western societies.