There are numerous issues that influence personality development at different stages. Therefore, it has become challenging to determine the most significant period of people’s rapid evolution. Various types of research focused on animal development provided insight into the biological framework of development. At the same time, the remarkable role of social interaction in proper human transformation demands separate analyses of the interconnectedness of purely biological and environmental factors.
I agree that there is currently a lack of research on prenatal development, which leads to numerous controversies concerning the possible substantial effect this stage has on future development. It is crucial to realize that the formation of the brain at that point is determined predominantly by a wide range of genetic factors. From an animal perspective, the formation of a new creature is considered to be pivotal for further development. According to Andrews et al. (2021), peer influence, emotion regulation capacities, and mentalizing have a significant impact on personality development. At the same time, emerging evidence suggests that at that stage, the development of humans and animals relies on the same set of factors.
Although the notion concerning the remarkable role of prenatal development does not directly contradict my approach to the crucial role of adolescence, the emphasis is different. While prenatal development is predetermined by several biological factors, adolescents experience remarkable influence from the environment on a daily basis. People during that age have to overcome various challenges and crises related to friendship, love, respect, values, and purpose of life that eventually form their personalities. Human development differs significantly from that of animals during adolescence, as numerous social phenomena underpin the sophisticated psychological reactions that rapidly form a person.
Reference
Andrews, J. L., Ahmed, S. P., & Blakemore, S. J. (2021). Navigating the social environment in adolescence: The role of social brain development. Biological Psychiatry, 89(2), 109-118. Web.