Adler was of the opinion that "… personality is shaped by the child's relationship with his/her parents and by our consciously chosen life goals, rather than by instincts" (Ewen, 1998, p. 1). This view suggests the primary importance of societal and family influences in the creation and development of personality. This view led to cognitive and social-cognitive theories, as well as humanistic theories of personality. A primary focus in the last few decades has been on the way that personality is influenced by a combination of both psychological and socials pressures and forces. Crucial in this regard is the period of adolescence as a formative period of development. Adolescence, especially during the early years "…is a period of important developmental changes and a time of stress and conflict. The physiological changes often precipitate special problems and doubts about self-concept, sexual identity, and relationships with others" (Kulas, 1996).

2. Factors that may influence an individual's personality development

Taking the above theories into consideration it is clear that there are a number interrelated factors that impact an individual's personality development. In the first instance the innate genetic makeup of the individual will influence the direction of personality development to a certain degree (the Genetic Self ). On the other hand there is strong evidence to suggest that social factors and interaction with society can play a major role in the development of these innate or genetic factors. In other words, aspects such as family...

A good example is the importance of good child-rearing practices.
3. Conclusion.

The subject of personality is one that is often complex to describe and understand. This is because personality includes the concept of individuality and the variety of differences between one person and anther. While certain personality types have been defined and categorized by psychologists, the issue of personality is one that is always open to fluctuation and variation. This is largely due to the fact that personality is a combination of innate characteristics and variable social and environmental factors.

References

Child Temperament and Personality. Retrieved 29 August, 2009, from http://www.child-

central.com/Understanding-the-Temperament-and-Personality-of-Your-Child.html

Ewen Robert B. ( 1998) an Introduction to Theories of Personality. 5th ed. Mahwah,

NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Kulas, Henryk. ( 1996) Locus of control in adolescence: a longitudinal study.

Adolescence, September 22, 1996. Retrieved 29 August, 2009, from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18771985.html

McKeachie J. And Doyle, C. (1971) Psychology. London: Addison- Wesley Publishing.

Personality Development. Retrieved 29 August, 2009, from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_3.htm

The Genetic Self. Retrieved 29 August, 2009, from http://www.trans4mind.com/transformation/transform7.1.htm