Abstract This paper sought to generate a better understanding of the dimension of sociobiology relevant to personality development. Specifically, the paper explored how sociobiology can be used to explain personality vis-à-vis cult membership. The paper addressed such questions as: Does nature alone account for personality? or is it nurture alone?; or a combination of the two? The paper reviewed relevant theories of personality, and examined the influence of nature and nurture on personality development and secret cult membership in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The paper concludes that an individual’s personality is the product both of inherited traits and tendencies. Inherited genes influence behaviour, however, the environment (i.e the culture in which we are raised, our early conditioning, the norms among our family, friends, social groups, and other influences that we experience) is factor that exert pressures on our personality formation that may influence participation in cultic activities.