<p>The <em>nature vs nurture</em> debate is long standing. Nurture presumably plays little or no role for the majority of newborns (see prenatal discussion below), therefore nature (genetics) would be the only influencing factor. Subsequent to birth, nurture presumably plays an increasingly greater role as time progresses.  Some (but not all) twin studies demonstrate some impact of genetics on behaviour (Johnson, 2002; Plomin 1976).</p>
<p>The behaviour of newborns are generally referred to as being instinctive or innate and may include goal-directed behaviours such as suckling, looking, smelling and imprinting. Researchers such as Lorenz and Sluckin are foundational on early life behaviour research.  I also contributed to an article on newborn instinctual behaviours.</p>
<p>The impact of prenatal stressors on the newborn have been considered in relation to maternal mental health (Erickson, 2017), alcohol abuse (Lange, 2017; McLachlan, 2019), substance abuse (Forray, 2016) and gestational diabetes (Schmidt, 2019):</p>
<ol>
<li><p><strong>Mother’s mental health</strong>: The findings were that there was no support for relationships between prenatal mental health indicators and infant temperament in multiple studies.</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder</strong>: The reported prevalence is less than 1% of births, however, the implications on the newborn are profound with as many as 30% of adults in correctional facilities suffering Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Substance abuse</strong>: Whilst birth and health problems have been widely investigated, little could be found on the implications on personality of the newborn.</p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Diabetes</strong>: Whilst birth and health problems have been widely investigated, little could be found on the implications on personality of the newborn.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>It is likely that I've not identified all relevant studies in relation to prenatal stressors affecting the personality and would welcome the advice of others.</p>
<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<p>Johnson, W., Krueger, R. F., Bouchard, T. J., &amp; McGue, M. (2002). The personalities of twins: Just ordinary folks. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 5(2), 125-131. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1375/twin.5.2.125" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1375/twin.5.2.125</a></p>
<p>Plomin, R., Willerman, L. &amp; Loehlin, J.C. Resemblance in appearance and the equal environments assumption in twin studies of personality traits. Behav Genet 6, 43–52 (1976). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065677" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065677</a></p>
<p>Sluckin, W. (2017). Imprinting and early learning. Transaction Publishers.</p>
<p>Sluckin, W., Herbert, M., &amp; Sluckin, A. (1983). Maternal bonding. Blackwell.</p>
<p>Lorenz, K. (2002). King Solomon's ring: new light on animal ways. Psychology Press.</p>
<p>Mobbs, E. J., Mobbs, G. A., &amp; Mobbs, A. E. (2016). Imprinting, latchment and displacement: a mini review of early instinctual behaviour in newborn infants influencing breastfeeding success. Acta Paediatrica, 105(1), 24-30. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13034" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13034</a></p>
<p>Erickson, N. L., Gartstein, M. A., &amp; Dotson, J. A. W. (2017). Review of prenatal maternal mental health and the development of infant temperament. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic &amp; Neonatal Nursing. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008</a></p>
<p>Forray A. (2016). Substance use during pregnancy. F1000Research, 5, F1000 Faculty Rev-887. <a href="https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.7645.1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.7645.1</a></p>
<p>Schmidt, C.B., Voorhorst, I., van de Gaar, V.H.W. et al. Diabetes distress is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 19, 223 (2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2376-6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2376-6</a></p>
<p>Lange, S., Probst, C., Gmel, G., Rehm, J., Burd, L., &amp; Popova, S. (2017). Global Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA pediatrics, 171(10), 948–956. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1919" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1919</a></p>
<p>McLachlan, K., McNeil, A., Pei, J. et al. Prevalence and characteristics of adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in corrections: a Canadian case ascertainment study. BMC Public Health 19, 43 (2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6292-x" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6292-x</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:11:33.560Z
"Nurture presumably plays no role for a newborn" is very wrong. "Nurture" includes the entire time spent in the maternal environment, which is a very important period for development.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:23:42.693Z
Thanks for pointing out the hidden assumption on my part. Prenatal conditions do seem to have a limited impact. In the following meta analysis "there was no support for relationships between prenatal mental health indicators and infant temperament in multiple studies" Notwithstanding, the authors claim there is prenatal impact on temperament.  Erickson, N. L., Gartstein, M. A., & Dotson, J. A. W. (2017). Review of prenatal maternal mental health and the development of infant temperament. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008
Tony Mobbs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:30:05.420Z
And that's just from specifically the mother's mental health. There is also the mother's physical health, diet, use of illicit or prescribed drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-21T00:17:41.940Z
@BryanKrause I've updated my answer to address your concerns.  With the exception of fetal alcohol syndrome, there appears to be little evidence for prenatal nurture significantly impacting personality.
Tony Mobbs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-21T00:20:44.843Z
Thanks for the ping, I saw the edit and already added my vote, nicely done.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-21T12:38:15.250Z
Sir, just a thought experiment.... how will a person who is in Coma from the very instant of its birth(hypothetical scenario) respond as per current science...if it is awakened at the age of 20.....assuming that it is kept healthy till then by some means.....how will his personality be like? could we even predict it?
Abhinandan Angra
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-21T20:40:13.083Z
I think we could predict that such an individual would be profoundly developmentally delayed and socially isolated.
Tony Mobbs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T17:06:30.520Z
2020-07-21T00:08:39.163Z
2020-07-21T00:08:39.163Z
Tony Mobbs
<p>What factors determine the personality of a newborn baby?</p>
<p>Do all newborns exhibit identical behaviour?  If not, are genetics responsible for the differences?</p>
<p>References consulted so far:</p>
<ol>
<li><p><a href="https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/11-3-is-personality-more-nature-or-more-nurture-behavioral-and-molecular-genetics/#:%7E:text=on%20human%20behaviour.-,Behavioural%20genetics%20is%20based%20on%20the%20results%20of%20family%20studies,associated%20with%20which%20personality%20traits." rel="nofollow noreferrer">Is Personality More Nature or More Nurture? Behavioural and Molecular Genetics</a></p>
</li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/are-personality-traits-caused-by-genes-or-environment-4120707" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Are Personality Traits Caused by Genes or Environment?</a></p>
</li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/under-the-influence/201307/do-genes-influence-personality" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Do Genes Influence Personality?</a></p>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-20T15:27:56.520Z
How would you expect to *measure* the personality of a 1 day old infant? The normal method to estimate the effect of genes on personality would be to test the hypothesis that genetic differences correlate with personality differences at some age, not to estimate personality in a newborn.
Bryan Krause
<learning><personality><genetics>
Personality at Birth
Abhinandan Angra
# Personality at Birth

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-20)

What factors determine the personality of a newborn baby?

Do all newborns exhibit identical behaviour? If not, are genetics responsible for the differences?

References consulted so far:

1. [Is Personality More Nature or More Nurture? Behavioural and Molecular Genetics](https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/11-3-is-personality-more-nature-or-more-nurture-behavioral-and-molecular-genetics/#:%7E:text=on%20human%20behaviour.-,Behavioural%20genetics%20is%20based%20on%20the%20results%20of%20family%20studies,associated%20with%20which%20personality%20traits.)
2. [Are Personality Traits Caused by Genes or Environment?](https://www.verywellmind.com/are-personality-traits-caused-by-genes-or-environment-4120707)
3. [Do Genes Influence Personality?](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/under-the-influence/201307/do-genes-influence-personality)

**Tags:** learning, personality, genetics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How would you expect to *measure* the personality of a 1 day old infant? The normal method to estimate the effect of genes on personality would be to test the hypothesis that genetic differences correlate with personality differences at some age, not to estimate personality in a newborn.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-07-20. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The *nature vs nurture* debate is long standing. Nurture presumably plays little or no role for the majority of newborns (see prenatal discussion below), therefore nature (genetics) would be the only influencing factor. Subsequent to birth, nurture presumably plays an increasingly greater role as time progresses. Some (but not all) twin studies demonstrate some impact of genetics on behaviour (Johnson, 2002; Plomin 1976).

The behaviour of newborns are generally referred to as being instinctive or innate and may include goal-directed behaviours such as suckling, looking, smelling and imprinting. Researchers such as Lorenz and Sluckin are foundational on early life behaviour research. I also contributed to an article on newborn instinctual behaviours.

The impact of prenatal stressors on the newborn have been considered in relation to maternal mental health (Erickson, 2017), alcohol abuse (Lange, 2017; McLachlan, 2019), substance abuse (Forray, 2016) and gestational diabetes (Schmidt, 2019):

1. **Mother’s mental health**: The findings were that there was no support for relationships between prenatal mental health indicators and infant temperament in multiple studies.
2. **Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder**: The reported prevalence is less than 1% of births, however, the implications on the newborn are profound with as many as 30% of adults in correctional facilities suffering Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
3. **Substance abuse**: Whilst birth and health problems have been widely investigated, little could be found on the implications on personality of the newborn.
4. **Diabetes**: Whilst birth and health problems have been widely investigated, little could be found on the implications on personality of the newborn.

It is likely that I've not identified all relevant studies in relation to prenatal stressors affecting the personality and would welcome the advice of others.

**References**

Johnson, W., Krueger, R. F., Bouchard, T. J., & McGue, M. (2002). The personalities of twins: Just ordinary folks. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 5(2), 125-131. <https://doi.org/10.1375/twin.5.2.125>

Plomin, R., Willerman, L. & Loehlin, J.C. Resemblance in appearance and the equal environments assumption in twin studies of personality traits. Behav Genet 6, 43–52 (1976). <https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065677>

Sluckin, W. (2017). Imprinting and early learning. Transaction Publishers.

Sluckin, W., Herbert, M., & Sluckin, A. (1983). Maternal bonding. Blackwell.

Lorenz, K. (2002). King Solomon's ring: new light on animal ways. Psychology Press.

Mobbs, E. J., Mobbs, G. A., & Mobbs, A. E. (2016). Imprinting, latchment and displacement: a mini review of early instinctual behaviour in newborn infants influencing breastfeeding success. Acta Paediatrica, 105(1), 24-30. <https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.13034>

Erickson, N. L., Gartstein, M. A., & Dotson, J. A. W. (2017). Review of prenatal maternal mental health and the development of infant temperament. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008>

Forray A. (2016). Substance use during pregnancy. F1000Research, 5, F1000 Faculty Rev-887. <https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.7645.1>

Schmidt, C.B., Voorhorst, I., van de Gaar, V.H.W. et al. Diabetes distress is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 19, 223 (2019). <https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2376-6>

Lange, S., Probst, C., Gmel, G., Rehm, J., Burd, L., & Popova, S. (2017). Global Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA pediatrics, 171(10), 948–956. <https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1919>

McLachlan, K., McNeil, A., Pei, J. et al. Prevalence and characteristics of adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in corrections: a Canadian case ascertainment study. BMC Public Health 19, 43 (2019). <https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6292-x>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "Nurture presumably plays no role for a newborn" is very wrong. "Nurture" includes the entire time spent in the maternal environment, which is a very important period for development.  
> **username_2**: Thanks for pointing out the hidden assumption on my part. Prenatal conditions do seem to have a limited impact. In the following meta analysis "there was no support for relationships between prenatal mental health indicators and infant temperament in multiple studies" Notwithstanding, the authors claim there is prenatal impact on temperament.  Erickson, N. L., Gartstein, M. A., & Dotson, J. A. W. (2017). Review of prenatal maternal mental health and the development of infant temperament. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008  
> **username_1**: And that's just from specifically the mother's mental health. There is also the mother's physical health, diet, use of illicit or prescribed drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc.  
> **username_2**: @BryanKrause I've updated my answer to address your concerns.  With the exception of fetal alcohol syndrome, there appears to be little evidence for prenatal nurture significantly impacting personality.  
> **username_1**: Thanks for the ping, I saw the edit and already added my vote, nicely done.  
> **username_0**: Sir, just a thought experiment.... how will a person who is in Coma from the very instant of its birth(hypothetical scenario) respond as per current science...if it is awakened at the age of 20.....assuming that it is kept healthy till then by some means.....how will his personality be like? could we even predict it?  
> **username_2**: I think we could predict that such an individual would be profoundly developmentally delayed and socially isolated.  

---

