Chapter 1 Learning About You 7
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the characteristics that people can see,
such as your height and body build. The
color of your eyes, hair, and skin are also
physical traits. You received these traits
from your parents and grandparents.
They are inherited.
Of course, certain other factors affect
the physical traits you inherit. One is
the way you live. For instance, if you
are usually active, you can more easily
maintain your desired weight. This affects
the appearance of your inherited body
build. Another factor is how you change
your features. An example is changing
the color of your hair. Your diet can affect
your physical traits, too. The food you
eat can infl uence your weight and your
height. It also affects the appearance of
your hair and the condition of your skin.
The other factor that infl uences your
personality is environment. Your
environment
is your surroundings
and the people in your life. Your environment includes your home,
neighborhood, and school. It also includes family members, neighbors,
classmates, and teachers.
All the people and places in your life affect you in your environment.
Your family and friends, however, probably have the greatest effect
on you. They are closer to you than anyone else. They are
part of your environment every day. See 1-2.
Reading
Review
1. What are some physical traits you
inherit from your parents?
2. What factors can infl uence the
physical traits you inherit?
3. How do the people and places in your
life affect you in your environment?
Self-Concept
Your
self-concept
is the way you see
yourself. This includes the way you think
about yourself. For instance, the feelings
you have about your appearance are part
of your self-concept.
Your friends at school are part of your
environment.
1-2
Heredity
In some families, brothers and
sisters look alike. In other families, the
children may not look like each other or
their parents. Sometimes, children begin
to look more like their parents as they
grow older. The reason people look like
other family members is heredity.
Look at pictures of yourself at
various ages. Compare these pictures
with those of other family members. In
what ways do you look like the rest of
your family? How are you different?
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