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stable nature of our brain hardware. Clearly, it seems that there is no refuting the fact that inborn genetic
and physiological patterns underlie human personality” (p. 160).

The biological paradigm is interesting and important to study. It helps us understand how our brains are
connected to our personalities. We also have a better understanding of how temperament traits are genetic.
However, we know “the biblical teaching regarding human nature includes both physical and spiritual
dimensions. The Bible teaches that humans are a unified whole consisting of both material and immaterial
attributes united together to become a ‘living soul.’ The separation of body and spirit is unnatural and is the
essence of death. To leave out the spiritual aspect of human nature is to leave out one of the foundational
moorings of biblical anthropology” (p. 161).

Take a moment and think about your personality from the biological approach. What personality traits do
you think you were born with? Do you have personality traits now that you had when you were a child? Even
as a baby? Write a few of them here:

The Behavioral Paradigm of Human Personality
Let’s take what we just learned about the biological approach to personality and spend a little time on
another approach. The behavioral paradigm of human personality “sees people as behaving organisms, as
animals who are simply more complex in nature and more advanced in mental capacity. Correction and
reinforcements come from everyday experiences and forces in the environment, which serve to shape our
thinking, attitudes, behavior, and personality. Biological psychologists see behavior as a result of brain
functioning and innate personality traits. Behaviorists believe that personality traits are determined by causal
factors within the experience of the person rather than in his biology” (Shields & Bredfeldt, p. 165-166,
2001). Let’s take a quick look at four propositions Professors Shields and Bredfeldt use to summarize the
behavioral paradigm. Evaluate each proposition as you read it for what you know to be true about human
personality:

“Proposition 1: Experience and learning are the primary forces that shape human behavior and
personality. Behaviorists hold that in experiences of daily life, personality qualities are formed and habits
learned. Whether it is the tendency toward aggression or shyness, whether it be socially desirable or
undesirable behavior, the behaviorist would point to experience and to conditioned and observational
learning as the reasons for these personality markers” (p. 167). (In the case of our two-year-olds, Behaviorists
would say Joshua and Steven learned these qualities because of the environment they live in.)

“Proposition 2: Humans are born with a 'blank slate' mind that immediately begins to form associations
from worldly sensations. This belief does not allow for free will or conscious decision-making. Instead, each
child is seen as a blank slate subject to the conditioning forces in the environment. Through experiences
beginning at the moment of birth, children are believed to establish associations within the mind between
behaviors and various rewards. These associations become the basis on which personality is built (p. 168).”
(Behaviorists would say timid, shy Joshua is that way because of how he has been raised. Steven - he has
been rewarded for being outgoing. Rewards could be something as simple as smiles from adults.)

“Proposition 3: Human behavior and personality are the cumulative result of learned associations and
reinforcements. For example, 16-year-old Stacy is known for her friendly personality and wonderful sense of
humor. Behaviorists would suggest that these qualities are present because of the positive attention she
gains from them. Since her laughter generates positive responses in others, a kind of reward, she continues
the behavior until it becomes so much a part of her as to be a habit” (p. 168).

“Proposition 4: Children learn new behaviors and personality patterns through modeling and behavior. For
example, a child who watches her mother prepare a dinner for a new widow learns generosity and Christlike
service. Similarly, a child who observes parents using violent means to solve problems will likely learn the

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