Final answer:
The conception of personality in science has indeed expanded in the past 20 years, incorporating multiple theories and acknowledging that personality develops throughout the entirety of one's life, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, including culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the scientific conception of personality has broadened dramatically over the past 20 years is TRUE. Indeed, the research on life narratives and their integration into personality science demonstrates a significant expansion of the field. This broadening includes diverse theories ranging from Freud's psychodynamic perspective, behavioral, humanistic, biological, trait, and cultural perspectives, to evolutionary theories that investigate the influence of genetic and environmental factors on personality development. Scholars now acknowledge that personality is not only formed during early childhood but continues to develop and evolve throughout one's lifespan.
A key component of the current understanding in personality psychology is the recognition that cultural influences play a momentous role in shaping personality. Additionally, evolutionary psychology has provided insight into personality traits from a survival and reproductive advantage perspective. These insights demonstrate that the human personality is a complex interplay of genetic predispositions and environmental experiences, which includes cultural socialization and life narratives. These narratives, or the stories individuals construct about their lives, have become a valuable aspect of understanding personality in the context of one's lifetime experiences.