Due to the highly controversial debate between nature and nurture, psychologists have begun to question the influence of cultural norms on the development of the personality of an individual. This essay discusses the impact that various gender roles in Western culture and Indian culture have had on specific aspects of personality using the Big Five Factor model, as empirical evidence supports the theory that personalities are shaped by the culture in which they are established. Erikson's psychosocial developmental stages correspond specifically to particular time frames and processes throughout the lifespan that can contribute to personality development. During the time a child attends school, the presence of encouragement or discouragement can determine the extent to which the child feels competent in his or her abilities and the extent to which he or she will continue to engage in a particular behavior. In Australia, education is encouraged for both sexes, but in India, greater emphasis is placed on the education of male children. Research has shown that the difference in gender roles impacts average scores for extroversion and openness on the Big Five personality test. Similar results were obtained when gender differences in employment were compared to other cultures; however, employed Indian women had higher conscientiousness scores than Australian women. Finally, this essay examines the differences in gender roles in approaching interpersonal relationships and how this may have contributed to the variations in personality traits between the two cultures, to the extent that Indian couples who united in marriage arranged seem to think more frequently about their own behavior. leading to an increase in traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness. It's obvious...... middle of paper ......ures. The presence of family when choosing a partner in Indian culture is much more important than in Western culture, and marriages arranged by parents are not uncommon (Jaiswal, 2014). The sixth stage of psychosocial development begins around age nineteen and continues until age forty, during which time the focus shifts from the self to the establishment of intimate relationships with others in order to avoid isolation (Erikson, 1977). Although arranged marriages are often opposed by members of Westernized societies, research suggests that Indian couples in arranged marriages experience higher levels of contentment than Western couples and display higher scores of agreeableness and conscientiousness to Big Five test, thus supporting the hypothesis that cultural practices and gender roles can influence personality traits (Markus, 2004).