How parents and genes shape us

How a child develops depends on a complex interplay between its genetic make-up and environmental factors. Expert opinions differ on the extent of parental influence.

The fact that children base their behaviour on role models can be traced back to biological causes. The brain's mirror neurones not only perceive movements and sounds, but also stimulate imitation of them. This is why young children imitate the gestures and facial expressions of the person opposite them: they blink back, make the same faces, stick out their tongue or sing the same lines. They model their behaviour on people who are familiar to them.

«It is biology and the environment that shape the behaviour of young children,» says Danish family therapist Jesper Juul. «An infant is born with a potential of millions of possible and different brain structures. How these develop depends to a large extent on the child's interpersonal and social experiences. The child's character and temperament are also decisive factors.»

The epigenome, a kind of genetic memory, decides which genetic factors are used and which are switched off.

The epigenome, a kind of genetic memory that decides which hereditary factors from the «assortment» are used and which are switched off, is responsible for shaping identity. This epigenome is influenced and changed by behaviour and experience.

Expert opinions differ as to whether genes or the social environment have a greater influence. British behavioural psychologist Richard Plomin, for example, is convinced that genes are primarily responsible for shaping who we are. In his book «Blueprint. How DNA makes us who we are», he explains: «Whether children become open or anxious, whether they are happy or sad later on, whether they study or not, is primarily laid down in the blueprint of our genetic make-up.» He considers the influence of parents, friends and school on the development of personality to be overrated and minor.

Formative stress in childhood

Sociologist and geneticist Michael Shanahan from the Jacobs Centre for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich takes a different view: «Genes are molecules. And to assume that molecules are largely responsible for whether or not I graduate from high school is a rather adventurous idea.» Shanahan emphasises that social circumstances and environmental influences such as stress are decisive for development. «We are exposed to stressors that activate parts of our genome. These in turn can influence our physical and mental development.» For example, permanent stress in childhood can lead to us behaving more aggressively, but also to us ageing faster, living shorter and being ill more often.

Auf der Suche nach einer eigenen Identität orientieren sich Kinder zunächst an den Eltern – und grenzen sich dann immer stärker von ihnen ab. Wie Müttern und Vätern das Vorbildsein gelingt, erfahren Sie im
In their search for their own identity, children initially orientate themselves towards their parents - and then increasingly distance themselves from them. Find out how mums and dads can succeed in being a role model in the online dossier "Being a role model".

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