Research Paper Introduction

Humans are constantly being influenced by their surroundings: whether it is social factors, environmental factors, or anything in between, all variables will have some effect on how someone behaves. As a result, how a person thinks, acts, or reacts in a situation can vary drastically from person to person, resulting in a wide variety of unique personalities across society. The development of human character is a topic that is relevant in any context, as it is a universal experience that occurs in every individual—yet at the same time, no two individuals will ever share the exact same character. Science has been able to prove that about half of our behavior is influenced by genetics, leaving the other half to be determined by external influences (Gladwell 159). However, exactly how these external influences affect human behavior is more unclear. From a neurological standpoint, psychologists such as Barbara Fredrickson, author of the book Love 2.0, believe that behavior is a result of boosted brain activity that occurs when interacting with others. All human interaction generates what Fredrickson calls “positivity resonance” between people’s minds, allowing them to synchronize with one another and deepen their connection (Fredrickson 109). The biological components of positivity resonance become more sensitive with increased amounts of positive interaction, thus causing a person more inclined to continue to act positively. From a psychological standpoint, however, author Malcom Gladwell believes that personality relies on the titular concept in his essay The Power of Context, wherein the “Power of Context” states that people are more likely to act a certain way due to their perception of the details within an environment (Gladwell 155). A person’s character, then, is loosely defined and can change with the context of the situation; consistency in behavior only appears consistent because the environment is fairly controlled (Gladwell 160). While both of these theories certainly play a role in determining a person’s behavior, an analysis of the two reveals that positivity resonance may be more influential in determining how a person’s overall disposition is developed, and that the Power of Context is less relevant than Gladwell makes it out to be in terms of defining a person’s character.