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Kelly is an extroverted and adventure-seeking only child. Her parents are more introverted and scholarly. According to What you know about the influence of genes on the environment, which of the following is most likely?

A) Kelly's personality is solely determined by her genetic makeup.
B) Kelly's environment has little impact on her personality.
C) Kelly's genes and environment interact to shape her personality.
D) Kelly's parents' personalities have no influence on her own.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The most accurate explanation for Kelly's personality being extroverted while her parents are introverted and scholarly is that both genetic and environmental factors interact to shape her personality. Theories such as the range of reaction and genetic environmental correlation support the idea that there is a bidirectional influence between genes and environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerning how Kelly's personality is shaped involves the classic debate in psychology known as the nature versus nurture debate. In this scenario, Kelly is described as extroverted and adventure-seeking, while her parents are characterized as introverted and scholarly. The most credible option in explaining Kelly's personality would be C) Kelly's genes and environment interact to shape her personality. This is because both genetic and environmental factors play a crucial role in the development of one's personality.

Psychologists acknowledge that culture, which encompasses beliefs, customs, and traditions, significantly influences personality development. Moreover, theories like the range of reaction suggest that genetic potential is a fixed quantity, and environmental factors can determine whether an individual reaches their full potential. In Kelly's case, her extroverted nature could be a combination of her inherent genetic predispositions as well as the nurturing environment provided by her scholarly parents. There is also the concept of genetic environmental correlation, which means that genes and environment could influence each other reciprocally, leading to the development of personality traits.

Therefore, Kelly's personality is likely not solely determined by her genes (Option A) or her environment (Option B), and her parents' personalities could have some influence on her development (contrary to Option D).

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