Psychological Traits

Published by

Clarissa

August 11, 2026

Freud is revindicated all over again:

Parenting has zero influence on any psychological trait after age 21.

Dr. Russell Barkley is direct about the data. Twin studies show parental influence peaks before age 7, drops sharply after that, sits at just 6% by the teenage years, and hits zero once someone turns 21.

https://x.com/i/status/2087081404106428501

Moreover, nothing has any influence on psychological traits after age 7. Genetics, the family history, the circumstances of conception, in utero experience and early childhood years make us who we are. Parents remain extremely important until you die but they have no power to reshape personality after age 7.

It is very important to know your family history because it will shape your life whether you know about it or not.

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6 responses to “Psychological Traits”

Anonymous

August 11, 2026

Gotta love those Experts, truly, they have a dizzying intellect.

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Stille

August 11, 2026

7 seems late. I’m pretty sure I was who I am by age 3, and there’s an argument to be made that by age 1 all the big brush strokes were already in place.

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Col. Potter

August 11, 2026

I remember Charlie Brown and Lucy discussed this issue—Lucy informed C.B. that the age was 5.

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1. Clarissa
  
  August 11, 2026
  
  Yes, Freud said five but life expectancy increased since then and all the Freudian stages of development were pushed back.
  
  Lucy sounds highly intellectual if she knows this. 😀
  
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el

August 12, 2026

Could you write a post on how to raise kids till this age, please? Tips, anything, what worked for you 🙂

Because I quite blindly use this influence period.

You’ve also written that saying NO to the child should be rare but serious. What about putting many dirty trash things in the park in her mouth? Standing up on a chair while being fed, which can result in falling? Weeping if I talk in a less pleasant tone to stress she should not do something or want to cut nails?

She is a year and 3 months old, and imo stubborn.

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1. cliff arroyo
  
  August 12, 2026
  
  “She is …. imo stubborn”
  
  I guess that gives the lie to the genetics argument…. I mean, a stubborn Jew? Whoever heard of such a thing!?
  
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