The biological perspective of personality posits that humans are genetically predisposed to the genes, environment, and life experiences that form certain traits of personality. The idea of nature shaping personality traits from the biological perspective emphasizes how genes could form a personality, how behaviour reflects significant temperaments, and how genes can enhance personality traits. Moreover, this perspective proposes that biological structures including the brain, genes, and neurotransmitters determine the behavior and thoughts of human beings. Building on the biological perspective of personality traits, this paper explores biological reasons for people demonstrating the personality traits of rationalists.
Biological Perspective of the Personality Traits
The idea of biological perspective is brought forth by Charles Darwin who suggests that species evolve over time and members of species with stronger personality traits reproduce and pass their traits onto offspring. The evolutionary theory of Darwin suggests that personality comes from a genetic basis as well as the environment that favours certain traits in individuals over a period of time. Personality traits and philosophical beliefs are complex phenomena that are influenced by a range of factors in genes and environment including cultural beliefs, basis of genetics, biological factors, and personal experiences. Genes are hereditary and hereditary traits play an important role in personality development as heredity could enhance personality traits of individuals. In addition, the human brain has a chemistry that responds to the reactions and how humans assess their immediate environment. The stronger these responses get, the more likely an individual is to hold certain personality traits because the brain is responsible for reacting to the stimulus.
Biological Perspective of the Personality Traits of Rationalists
Rationalism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the role of reason in acquiring knowledge and developing critical thinking skills. The readings suggest that certain brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex are responsible for reasoning that form the personality traits of a rationalist. This part of the brain is associated with cognitive processes including problem-solving skills, decision-making, and reasoning that rationalists prioritize as a source of knowledge and justification. One possible reason related to the biological perspective of what personality traits people may develop that make them rationalists is related to their brain structure and neurotransmitter activity (Lakomski & Evers, 2010).
These brain regions and genes in collective functions are associated with cognitive processes as variations in these regions could potentially influence an individual’s inclination towards rational thinking. Other factors including personal experiences, cultural upbringing, and environmental influences also contribute to the development of personality traits in rationalists as these factors are the basis for individual differences and the biological basis for rationalist thinking. However, reasoning instilled in rationalists is more a philosophical characteristic that comes from logic than a personality trait because rationalists are generally independent, pragmatic, and natural problem solvers. This is because of the reason rationalists regard reason as the chief source of knowledge gained through the environment because they act rationally when they have a good reason for what they do on strong, intentions, beliefs, and evidence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, readings suggest that personality traits are the characteristics of human beings that can be traced back to genetic mechanisms, brain structures, and neural mechanisms that drive differences in individual human behavior. Similarly, the biological perspective on rationalists’ personality traits or characteristics can be traced back to the pre-frontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for logic and reasoning. These traits are actually the enduring thought patterns and behavioral basis that reflect the human tendency to respond in a certain way in certain rational conditions in the real world.
References
Lakomski, G., & Evers, C. W. (2010). Passionate rationalism: The role of emotion in decision making. Journal of Educational Administration, 48(4), 438–450.
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