How does the CSPT understand the etiology of temperament?
Creative Systems Theory addresses the “what” of personality difference, but not the “why.” How a particular person ends up with a particular primary energetic remains a fascinating, open question. We can say with some certainty that something more than just learning plays a role. While most children have personality styles similar to their parents, with some frequency there are major differences—something we would not see if “nurture” were the only factor.
Genetics is the most likely mechanism here, but other possibilities exist.
We can say with fair certainty, for example, that some kind of “ecological niche” dynamic plays at least a minor role. Multiple children in a family tend to disperse within the personality spectrum—most likely as a way to provide distinct territory for each child’s identity.
