A country with variation in geographic develops diverse characteristics. Iran is a country that owns dissimilar climate. If you travel to the North after passing the Alborz Mountains you’ll soon reach the Caspian Sea, and then moving to the South, you will be impressed seeing the Persian Gulf after going across the desert. Consequently, there are people with different behaviors distributed all over the country. Beyond the characteristics absorbed by nature, other environmental influences such as historical factors, culture and war play a big role in people’s psychological behaviors and in long term they become a part of nations’ personality.
First and foremost, Iran is a country with a great history, heritage, fantastic art, poetry, and literature. The Iranians who are the "best of the best" do in fact live up to this standard. Iran has churned out great architects and artisans, great poets and philosophers, great thinkers and leaders. Under Cyrus the great, Iran was one of the noblest empires on Earth. On the other hand, because of the large amount of oil and gas resources it has always been a target for other nations.
Iranians have been taken advantage of over the years by many people and have become very mistrusting of others at times. They were invaded by the Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, and Turks all of whom tried to change the language and culture of the nation. The country underwent many changes and many dynasties of tyrannical rulers who robbed the people. When Arabs invaded Iran, they tried to ruin Iranian’s culture. They plundered, raped, killed, and burned all the libraries and schools built by the king at that time. Invader after invader destroyed the country and spread an atmosphere that forced some citizens to become liers, cheaters, and backbiters.
Iranian’s hospitality also could be the result of fear from outsiders. Indeed, they are friendly and hospitable by most standards, and exhibit this friendliness genuinely that sometimes it looks superficial. Gradually, this became a distinctive possession of Iranians’ culture.
An interesting variable which forms one of nation’s traits is whether the resources that a population needs is enough for survival. Because Iran is a rich country, and before the revolution in 1978, King of Iran let people retain wealth, underneath they become power and money hungry. Iranians are, as a society, deeply concerned with status. Being a doctor, being wealthy, or being successful financially, does in fact bring great status to an individual. For this reason, Iranians are money hungry and will pursue those avenues which will result in larger houses, bigger cars, and more status.
In 1980, few years after revolution, the war between Iran and Iraq occurred. This war was of great lost in lives and economic damages. Islamic regime abused and brain washed youth to go to the war. Even though Islamic regime promised the veterans’ and martyrs’ family a great deal of help mentally and economically, families are still live in poverty, and in regrets of making mistakes sending their loved ones to the war. This is only one example, of how people in power always lie and take advantage of citizen’s trust in Iran. As the result, now Iranians are mistrusting of others and believe in individualism. They just want to live their lives without other’s interference.
Personality of a person and a nation as a whole not only is shaped by genetic and environmental influences; it is biased by the history, war and culture. Over the years of invading Iran, particular characteristics molded Iranian’s personalities. Some of these traits are equal to the world standards, however; most of them are specifically theirs. Some of the characteristics such as being extreme and superficial absorbed during the years, but do they really need another thousand years to fix these holes in their culture?