By now you have probably heard something in the news (or perhaps your favorite gossip magazine) about the very public debacle around actress Lindsay Lohan.  It seems like her life and poor “choices” have been carefully tracked and observed by the public eye for years now.  But, recently with her jail sentence actually happening (of which she will likely spend about 10% of her 90 day sentencing) it is almost impossible to turn on the radio, look at a magazine, or hear news stations without hearing someone debating, “How did she get here?”  Good question!  Let’s address that with one psychologies age old discussions, Nature versus Nurture. The definition of nature versus nurture is:  a name given to a long-standing controversy as to the relative influences of genetics versus the environment in the development of personality. Nature is represented by instincts, and genetic factors, and nurture by social influences. (Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.)

It is often believed that childhood stardom is a tough life to live and grow up in.  Everyone knows who you are and how they treat you differently can affect many attributes to anyone’s personality and behavior.  The fact that Lindsay Lohan’s life has been under a microscope and scrutinized for probably as long as she can remember, is likely to cause her to suffer from anxiety, depression, relationship conflict as well as multiply what she might perceive to be trauma.  So, with this argument, you could make a good case for nurture to be the more defining piece in the development of her personality.

On the flip side, one could also argue how nature might be the more3 powerful defining piece in her personality development.  Maybe it isn’t the fact that childhood stars seem to be influenced by their ‘star-power’; Perhaps it is their genetics (or “in their blood” if you will) that these persons are commonly attracted to the spotlight at a young age and by default their nature eventually comes through during their later years in life?

So you see, the debate continues . . .

Regardless of what got Lindsay Lohan in the state she is in now, there is one thing that should remain non-debatable.  Despite of whom you are today, whether you have been influenced by the environment around you (i.e. parents, family, friends, where you’re from) or by the genetic nature (of which you had no choice), one truth remains – you can change.

(Blog Submitted by Elliot Munro, Life Coach at Psychological Health And Wellness)