ETIOLOGY Biologic Theories Personal

ETIOLOGY
Biologic Theories
Personality develops through the interaction of hereditary dispositions and environmental influences. Temperament refers to the biologic processes of sensation, association, and motivation that underlie the integration of skills and habits based on emotion. Genetic differences account for about 50% of the variances in temperament traits.
The four temperament traits are harm avoidance, nov¬elty seeking, reward dependence, and persistence. Each of these four genetically influenced traits affects a person’s automatic responses to certain situations. These response patterns are ingrained by 2 to 3 years of age (Svrakic & Cloninger, 2005).
People with high harm avoidance exhibit fear of uncer-tainty, social inhibition, shyness with strangers, rapid fati-gability, and pessimistic worry in anticipation of problems. Those with low harm avoidance are carefree, energetic, outgoing, and optimistic. High harm-avoidance behaviors may result in maladaptive inhibition and excessive anxi¬ety. Low harm-avoidance behaviors may result in unwar¬ranted optimism and unresponsiveness to potential harm or danger.
A high novelty-seeking temperament results in some¬one who is quick tempered, curious, easily bored, impul¬sive, extravagant, and disorderly. He or she may be easily bored and distracted with daily life, prone to angry out¬bursts, and fickle in relationships. The person low in nov¬elty seeking is slow tempered, stoic, reflective, frugal, reserved, orderly, and tolerant of monotony; he or she may adhere to a routine of activities.