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FULL OF KNOWLEDGE BLOG ONSEN® / About Health

What shapes personality? Discover the secrets of character!

30 września 2025
personality, personality disorders, psychology
Contents
Biology and genetics
Family and upbringing
Peers and education
Culture and society
Life experiences
Psychology and personality theories
Personal development and personality change
A complex infinite game
It is the mysterious personality that remains one of the most important and, at the same time, most complex concepts in psychology. For centuries, researchers have tried to grasp the essence of personality, and people often wonder why some are more open while others are reserved. Or why some respond calmly, while others act impulsively. It is personality that makes each of us unique and one of a kind, yet also predictable in certain situations.

Understanding what shapes personality has great practical value. It helps us get to know ourselves better and anticipate our own reactions in order to communicate more effectively with others. Reliable knowledge about personality is also crucial in therapeutic, educational, or professional contexts, as it allows us to adjust environments and ways of working to individual needs.

Mateusz Nesterok emphasizes that personality is not a fixed trait but a dynamic structure that changes over time. Although the foundations of personality are formed in early childhood, life experiences and conscious self-work can significantly influence its development. This means that human personality is a combination of biology, environment, and personal choices.

Biology and genetics

As highlighted by scientific literature, one of the most fundamental and primary factors shaping personality is biological predisposition. From the moment we're born, we carry temperamental traits that stem from how our nervous system functions. This is why some children are naturally calm, while others react with intense crying.

Genetic research, especially studies on identical twins, shows that many personality traits, such as extraversion, openness to experience, and neuroticism, have a clear hereditary component. However, genes are not destiny. As Mateusz Nesterok points out, genetics provides a map, but it doesn't choose the path. The final shape of personality results from the interaction between biological inheritance and environmental experiences, aligning with the biopsychosocial perspective.

Beyond genes, brain chemistry plays a key role in our behavior. Hormones and neurotransmitters affect our mood, ability to concentrate, and motivation, and even our tendency toward risk-taking. For instance, a low level of serotonin is often linked to susceptibility to depression, while a high level of dopamine is associated with impulsivity. Biology lays the foundation, but the full structure of personality is built on top of it – and this process lasts a lifetime.

Family and upbringing

The first environment in which a child's personality develops is the family. It is there that the first emotional and cognitive patterns are formed, shaping the years to come. That is why relationships with parents and caregivers are so crucial – they can either reinforce a sense of security or, conversely, create fear and mistrust toward the world. Recent scientific research also confirms the environmental impact on emotional traits.

John Bowlby’s attachment theory demonstrates that early emotional bonds fundamentally influence how we form relationships in adulthood. Children who experience secure attachment are more likely to grow into trusting, emotionally stable individuals capable of forming close relationships. In contrast, instability in childhood may lead to anxious or avoidant attachment styles.

Nesterok points out that parenting isn’t about rules and instructions but about the emotional climate. Warmth, patience, and acceptance reinforce a child’s sense of self-worth and teach them how to manage emotions in a healthy way. On the other hand, criticism, neglect, or excessive demands can foster fear in a child and a feeling of inadequacy. This highlights just how strong the influence of family is on personality development, shaping much of a person’s adult life.

Peers and education

While the family lays the foundation, it is mainly peers and school that play a key role in the further shaping of personality. Most of us learn competition, cooperation, and negotiation within peer groups. Every experience – from the first friendship to conflicts – becomes a lesson for the personality that enriches our character. As early as 2011, research findings indicated that life paths correlate with increases in traits such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, which supports this idea.

The entire educational environment introduces the child to the world of social and intellectual norms. Teachers, mentors, and school authorities present new perspectives, theoretically fostering a sense of duty and responsibility. Well-conducted education supports openness to the world and critical thinking, contributing to personality development.

Psychologist Mateusz Nesterok notes that peer groups can have a stronger influence than family, especially during adolescence. It is within these groups that young people seek acceptance, learn social roles, and experiment with identity. Peers become a personality mirror in which the image of the self is formed.

Culture and society

We must remember that personality does not develop in a vacuum but is immersed in culture and society. Norms, traditions, and cultural values strongly influence how we see ourselves and others. In individualistic societies, independence is valued, while in collectivist ones, loyalty to the group is more important.

Culture also shapes which personality traits are encouraged and which are suppressed. For instance, extraversion and openness may be valued in some cultures, while modesty and restraint are preferred in others. Thus, personality is not only an individual construct but also a reflection of societal values that we internalize from childhood. This is also supported by scientific studies published in 2017.

As Nesterok points out, globalization is shaping modern personalities at the crossroads of many cultures. Social media and the internet create communities where young people form their identities, often in defiance of traditional patterns. This proves that personality in the 21st century is undergoing dynamic and global transformations – a real breakthrough.

Life experiences

Every person goes through life experiences that permanently alter their personality. Events such as the loss of a loved one, the birth of a child, or a job promotion can all impact the shaping of personality. These moments often become turning points that change how we view the world and ourselves. Well-known scientific findings also show that life experiences can literally shift the trajectory of personality trait development.

According to cognitive psychology, what matters most is not the event itself but how it is interpreted. Two individuals can experience the same situation yet react and draw conclusions in completely different ways. One may develop greater mental resilience, while the other may become more prone to anxiety.

Mateusz Nesterok points out that life experiences act like catalysts – they accelerate the growth of some traits while weakening others. Personality evolves alongside a person’s life story, and the more diverse the experiences, the richer and more complex the character becomes.

Psychology and personality theories

To better understand personality, psychology has developed numerous models and theories. One of the most well-known is the Big Five theory, which describes personality using five dimensions – openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism – each representing a spectrum.

Other theories, such as Freud’s psychoanalysis, emphasize the role of the unconscious and internal conflicts, while humanistic theories by Rogers and Maslow focus on the drive for self-actualization. Each model offers a different perspective on personality, contributing to a rich and multifaceted picture.

Mateusz Nesterok points out that personality theories are not mutually exclusive but rather complement one another. Thanks to these approaches, psychology can not only diagnose traits but also suggest ways to work on personal growth. Understanding one's personality profile becomes the starting point for self-development. Additionally, scientific research shows that personality change is dynamic – and that self-assessments tend to align with external evaluations, while retrospective changes match longitudinal patterns.

Personal development and personality change

Although many elements of personality are relatively stable, every person has the ability to work on themselves. It is possible to change ingrained mental and emotional patterns through coaching, therapy, or mindfulness practice.

Personal development is not about becoming someone else, but about making fuller use of one’s potential. As Mateusz Nesterok emphasizes, truly conscious work on personality is a path to greater life satisfaction and better relationships with others.

Helpful tools include mindfulness exercises, as well as assertiveness training and psychoeducation. These help to develop beneficial traits while reducing those that hold us back. As a result, personality becomes more flexible and better suited to the challenges of modern life.

A complex infinite game

Personality is the result of a complex interplay between genetics, family environment, culture, life experiences, and personal effort. It is said that personality is dynamic – it changes over time and is never a finished product. Thanks to this flexibility, people can grow and adapt to new conditions.

A coordinated analysis published in a 2024 scientific article confirms that life events are linked to changes in Big Five personality traits. Researchers found that the influences on personality are multiple and iterative – and they continue throughout the lifespan.

Mateusz Nesterok emphasizes that personality is not a sentence, but a process. We can understand it, nurture it, and shape it – because everyone has the potential for growth. And being aware of that opens the door to a fuller life.

We also encourage you to explore other articles on the best sleep and health blog, as well as the Encyclopedia of Healthy Sleep prepared by the ONSEN® team of specialists. For those who care about spine health, we recommend a set of spine exercises prepared by our physiotherapist.

FAQ: Personality

What is personality?

As psychologist Mateusz Nesterok explains, personality is a unique set of psychological traits that influences how we think, feel, and act. It develops both on a biological and genetic basis, as well as under the influence of the environment in which we grow up and live.

What are the types of personality?

There are many theories that describe personality. Some focus on dimensions, like the Big Five model, while others distinguish types, such as the popular MBTI test or the classical division into sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic temperaments. Each of these concepts has its limitations, but all attempt to capture the diversity of human character.

What is the most common personality type?

There is no single most common personality type. Depending on the model used, different traits and combinations may be more prevalent in specific cultures or societies.

Is character the same as personality?

Personality is not exactly the same as character. Personality is the overall set of traits that define us, while character mainly refers to values, morality, and the principles we live by. You could say that character is a part of personality.

Can personality be changed?

To some extent, personality can be changed. While its foundations are relatively stable, life experiences, conscious self-development, and therapy can influence how we think, feel, and react. Change doesn?t happen overnight, but it is possible, especially in adulthood when we gain more self-awareness.

Contents
Biology and genetics
Family and upbringing
Peers and education
Culture and society
Life experiences
Psychology and personality theories
Personal development and personality change
A complex infinite game
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