Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my second Blog Post. For my semester 1 project, I have decided to research into the inquiry question “Do I shape my personality, or is it shaped by others?” In this blog post, I will be exploring three different steps of research, that link to my inquiry question. These separate understandings can bring me closer to the question, and becoming more confident in the answer.
Step 1: Understanding Internal Personality Development
My first step is to recognize and understand how people internally shape a personality, whether that’s through genetics, mindset, personal experience, and individual growth. This will help me understand how much of one’s identity comes within us, rather than from outside influences. I will research psychology studies, articles, and examples of how personal reflection and self awareness impact identity. This step will look at self-awareness, motivation, and the psychological concept of “nature” in the nature vs. nurture debate. Learning about this will provide me with a framework for determining how much of who I am originates from within myself versus from my surroundings.
Step 2: Environment and Social Influence
My second step will be focusing on external factors that you are constantly surrounded by, including the people, places, and experiences that influence personality growth. Factors include family values, school experience, friendships, social media, and cultural expectations. I want to find studies or examples of how people adapt or change parts of their personality based on these factors they surround themselves with. This will provide myself with a deeper understanding of myself as well, because I do notice how sometimes I act differently with different groups, even though I am confident on who I am. By exploring how others influence personality, I will be able to see how much of our internal personality is shown externally, and how much comes from our authentic selves.
Step 3: Finding the Balance Between Self and Society
My final research step will be focused on how individuals can maintain a sense of self, while still being influenced by others in a positive way. I want to explore how learning from others can make a positive impact to one’s personality, without loosing who you are. This can be influences like morals, actions, and perspectives. This step will support my question, to understand if one’s personality is something we completely control, or if it is something we share a build with the people around us. I want to include my own personal reflection in this as well but connecting what I have learnt to my own life experiences, and how those experiences have been influenced positively or negatively. This final step will tie together all the steps, helping me get a better understanding of my inquiry question.
Implications on Myself and Community:
This question will implicate my further self discovery, and personal growth in my identity. Understanding if my personality comes from myself, and in what way its influenced by others, will help me become more aware of the choices I make and the people I surround myself with in my life. Researching this question will give a better understanding on staying true to myself wherever/whoever I am with. It will help me understand why I act differently in social situations, and how to be confident in myself in those hard situations. This project is valuable to my community because it allows people to reflect on who they are and what impacts them. Understanding self-identity is crucial in today’s environment, where social media and peer pressure have such a huge influence. This study can help people remember that, while we are influenced by others, we also have the ability to choose how we grow and who we become. I hope that by learning this, I might inspire others to find a good balance between personal development and social connection, and to be open to influence while being strong in their own identity.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/fulfillment-any-age/202205/what-really-shapes-your-personality-throughout-your-life
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-enneagram-of-personality-4691757
https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-psych-020821-114927
https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/what-do-we-learn-from-networks
Hey, Timothy! Your project plan is really strong and well-organized. I like how you broke it into three clear steps that connect to your inquiry question perfectly. The topic is super interesting and relatable, and your reflections make the post feel thoughtful and personal. One thing you could improve is making some sentences shorter for smoother reading, and maybe and more of your opinions throughout your post. Overall, this is a clear, meaningful, and well-planned post. Great job!
Hello Timothy, I am really intrigued in your question this semester. I can tell that you have put time and effort into your blog posts, this is very well done. I especially liked how you structured this post. The separate micro topics make it easy and fun to read. I also love how you are specifically using yourself and your community for examples. I think if you were to add connecting sentences at the end of each paragraph the transitions would be smoother! This is a great post and I am looking forward to reading the next to come!