Question

Are physical traits or behavioural traits more susceptible to environmental influences ? Discuss what aspects of your environment may have shaped your physical and behavioural traits.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Environmental influences have an impact on both the physical and behavioural traits of a human being. However, the major difference is that physical traits are altered through an extended period of time with its effects on posterity and behavioural traits are mostly immediate with an effect exclusive to the individual.

For instance, if an individual lives close to an industrial area, the pollution is more likely to affect the person’s health. These health problems might poorly affect genetics and might even result in health problems passed on to the children. The same can be said about a person living in a healthy pollution free environment but, with a converse effect.

On the other hand, behavioural traits are affected by the emotional dynamics of the environment. There could be stressors like work and financial pressures, family problems etc. that might cause a person to feel anxious, be depressed etc. Also, a healthy family life, good friends, a stable job, work-life balance etc. can ease a person’s mental state and result in positive behaviour. These behavioural traits might not necessarily be passed on to generation or take too much time to take effect like the physical traits.

A healthy diet of home cooked meals, a decent education, healthy peer group and good professional prospects have affected one’s behavioural and physical traits. This affirmative effect is because of the direct effect that environmental factors have had on the mental and physical health.