Unit 1 You and Others 6
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Have you ever looked in a mirror and asked, “Who am I?” It can be fun
and exciting to do that sometimes. When you gaze in the mirror, you may
think about the person you want to become. You are an individual, a special
person. No other human being in the whole world is just like you. See 1-1.
Personality
The way you act and feel makes you unique. Your feelings and actions
are infl uenced by your traits, or your distinguishing characteristics. They
start developing early in life. Throughout your life, they continue to grow
and develop. Your traits combine in a way that makes you one of a kind.
Your
personality
is made up of the group of traits that makes you
unique. Refl ect on your personality for a moment. The way you look, think,
and behave are all part of your personality. Your personality should reveal
who you are, not what others think you should be.
How you get along with people
refl ects your personality. Your personality
also infl uences what your family and
friends think of you. Words such as
friendly, nice, thoughtful, pleasant, and
witty may describe you. Perhaps you use
different words to describe yourself and
the personalities of other people.
You may wonder why a person has
a certain personality. Two factors affect
personality: heredity and environment.
Reading
Review
1. What causes each person to have a
unique personality?
2. Name two factors that affect
personality.
Heredity and
Environment
Your development is the result
of both heredity and environment.
Heredity
is the result of receiving traits
from parents or ancestors. Heredity
helps determine your physical traits.
Physical traits are the distinguishing
characteristics of your body. They are
Taking a close look at yourself can help
you identify all your special qualities.
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