Prenatal influences on the development and stability of personality

The brain rapidly develops during the prenatal period; therefore, intrauterine conditions can affect neurodevelopment, behavior and health across the lifespan. The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis posits that physiological alterations are made by the fetus to adapt to prenatal conditions. Research examining links between perinatal adversity and neurodevelopment has focused mainly on the risk for mental health problems. However, these disorders are likely the product of multiple subtle changes in the brain occurring in response to intrauterine stress, alterations that may have important implications for the development of personality. Here, we review the evidence that bears on the question of if and how prenatal conditions influence personality development. We hypothesize that prenatal conditions lead to alterations in systems mediating stress and reward sensitivity and effortful control, changes that may affect personality traits and their stability across time. Understanding how the prenatal environment influences personality development can help to advance theories of personality development and our understanding of normal behavior.