Final answer:
Research provides evidence that individual personality traits are indeed shaped by an interplay of genetic factors and gene-environment interactions. Genetics set the potential for traits, while the environment plays a crucial role in the expression of these traits, influencing personality through cultural, societal, and geographical factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is TRUE that individual differences in fundamental personality traits are shaped by genetic differences between people and complex gene-environment interactions. While genetics provide the biological blueprints for our traits, it is the interplay between these genetic predispositions and environmental factors such as culture, experiences, and social interactions that fully determine how these traits manifest in an individual.
Personality is influenced by both genetic inheritance and environmental factors. For example, societal culture plays a critical role in shaping personality by transmitting beliefs, customs, and traditions through language and behavior modelling. Furthermore, the range of reaction concept suggests that genetic potential can be influenced significantly by environmental conditions. It is important to understand that nature and nurture are not separate entities, but rather intricately connected elements that work together to shape an individual's personality.
Research in this area also takes into account geographical differences in personality traits, recognizing that certain personality traits may cluster in specific geographic regions, suggesting an interplay between the environment and genetics of populations in those areas.