Introduction

When you think about your child, you might wonder: Were they born this way, or did they learn it from the world around them? In this short reflection, one of our team members shares how their own experiences reshaped the way they understand about their developments. If you’ve ever caught yourself looking at your child and thinking, “Why are they like this?”, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore it together.

Comments

My mom is the one I interviewed. She believes that genetic traits are key in shaping a child because they provide the foundation for temperament. When we grow up, our genetics again shaped our capabilities and contributed to our unique emotional development. However, she thinks that genetic traits do not determine everything on their own. Our environments, such as family, school, culture, and social experiences interacts with our genetics. In her view, both genetics and environment influence a child’s behavior, learning, and/or academic performance. So, there is no really a winner from “nature” or “nurture.”

A developmental theory similar to her beliefs is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system. He states that development is shaped by five components that interact with a child’s genetic traits, including the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. The microsystem is the environment closest to the child, such as work, school, friends, and family. The exosystem includes the indirect interactions of the child and the environment, such as friends and family. The macrosystem is the social and cultural aspects that affect a child’s development, such as laws and religious beliefs. Finally, the chronosystem includes environmental changes in a child’s life, including personal life transitions and changes within the family dynamic. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory holds that development is shaped by biology and the interplay among environmental systems.

My own development felt like a mix of genetic traits and environment. A big part of my personality is my hyperactivity of my thoughts. My mom always told me that I am like my dad because just like him, I loved switching conversation topics without realizing it. Over the years, my mom encouraged me to be more aware of this habit and be mindful of others in conversation. In addition to my genetic traits, my environment played a significant role in my development. For instance, my academically rigorous high school helped me befriend with dedicated peers. This experience in turn influenced me to develop a high standard for academic performances. Socially, I was raised in a racially diverse community, which taught me the importance of social awareness. All of these experiences come to form who I am today.

Although my mom and Bronfenbrenner share many beliefs, they differ slightly because my mom emphasizes genetic traits that determine early temperament. While my mom emphasizes both genetic traits and environment in a child’s development, Bronfenbrenner focuses on the environment’s influence on a child’s development. Reflecting on both perspectives taught me that development isn’t just one or the other. It is a mix of both nature and nurture that shape and strengthen a child’s development.

References

Guy-Evans, O. (2025, May 6). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bronfenbrenner.html

Lemery-Chalfant, K., Kao, K., Swann, G., & Goldsmith, H. H. (2013). Childhood temperament: passive gene-environment correlation, gene-environment interaction, and the hidden importance of the family environment. Development and psychopathology, 25(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412000892