Essay Question #1 Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge by thinking, judging, and solving problems. The function of cognitive function is to provide human beings with the ability to use language, express perceptions, use imagination, and make decisions. These thought processes play an important role in personality development. Biological and environmental factors have been linked to cognition. Biological factors include our genetic makeup and hereditary factors. Genetic makeup determines the physical characteristics of eye and hair color. Hereditary factors are traits passed down through parents and blood relationships. These inherited traits determine the temperament of human beings. Biological traits of genetics and heredity play a major role in how human beings perceive themselves and how others interact with them. This cognitive perception of self and others is thought to help determine a person's personality. Environmental factors include how a human being is raised and how outside influences such as school, church, relationships, and society shape their cognitive processes. An example of the relationship between cognition and personality would be a child born of two different races. Physical characteristics are likely to be different with mixed breeds, causing the child to perceive themselves as abnormal, thus leading to antisocial or introverted personality traits. Essay Question #2 Aggressive personality is defined as an “individual whose overall interaction style involves significant, persistent, maladaptive aggression” (counselingresource.com). Evolutionary, biological, and environmental factors contribute to the aggressive personality. Human beings...... middle of paper...... Sachusetts: Allyn And Bacon. Cloninger, S.C. (2008). Personality theories including people. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. (Original work published 1996).CounsolvingResource.com.CounwritingResource.com – Psychology, Therapy & Mental HealthResources. Retrieved December 6, 2011 from http://counsellerresource.com/features/2008/11/03/aggressive-personalities/Friedman, HS and Schustack, MW (2006). Personality: classical theories and modern research. Needham Heights: Allyn and Bacon. (Original work published in 1999) Simon, PhD, DG (November 7, 2008). Understanding Aggressive Personalities | CounselingResource.com.CounwritingResource.com – Psychology, therapy and mental health resources. Retrieved December 6, 2011 from http://counsellerresource.com/features/2008/11/03/aggressive-personalities