Atefeh Ferdosipour
Islamic Azad University, Iran
Title: The influence of genetics and environmental factors on personality types and early maladaptive schemas: A twins study
Biography
Biography: Atefeh Ferdosipour
Abstract
This study attempts to evaluate the influence of genetics and environmental factors on personality types and early maladaptive schemas, by comparing these in identical and fraternal twins. Our sample consisted of 38 pairs of Iranian twins, distributed across identical (21 pairs) and fraternal (17 pairs) groups. All these twins were 18 to 45 years old. The instruments used for this study consisted of Myers Briggs personality test (MBTI-M) and Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Form (YSQ-SF). Analysis of tests indicated that in identical twins, the personality types were different. Also, early maladaptive schemas were different in both the disconnection & rejection and over-vigilance/inhibition domains. But, in three areas of impaired autonomy and performance, impaired limits and other-directedness domains, the early maladaptive schemas were equal in identical twins. In fraternal twins, the personality types were different and all domains of the early maladaptive schemas were also different. Based on the results of this study, it seems that in formation of personality types, neither genetics nor environmental factors are influential by themselves. Rather, it is the combination of the two sets of influences which is the determining factor.