According to the renowned Sociologist Herbert Mead, the past social experiences of the people are the major source of contribution in forming the personality of an individual. He was of the opinion that the personality of an individual is the sum total of his actions and interactions with different people in different environments. This is confirmed by the fact that a child does not mature mentally and physically if he is left in isolation for a considerate amount of time.

Our past experiences help us to understand the intentions of others in a better way and analyze them so that we know how he would react to a certain situation. So, when you see somebody driving very fast you automatically assume that he may switch lanes and must be in a hurry to reach somewhere. People also behave or portray themselves in the way they think the others think of them.

You always come across something new everyday and the way you deal with it adds to your experience which eventually decides the way you react to it the next time you are encountered with it. The way people are nurtured and brought up also has a deep affect on their personalities. This is because of the fact that different classes of society raise their children in a different way.

During the adolescent years people are more connected with their peer group as they consider themselves as adults and this is also the time when the parents are really worried about who their children hang around with as the learning and experience of these years have a great influence on the rest of their lives.