Does Investiture influence people in small quantities?

Question

We know that if an individual takes up a whole Shard, then over time (millenia or longer, in some cases), their goals and desires will fall in line with that Shard’s intent. Ati, for example, was originally a good person:

Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.

_{The Way of Kings}

However, when Ati took up Ruin, he eventually became bent on nothing less than the destruction of the entire Cosmere.

Similarly, Leras eventually was entirely unable to destroy Ruin directly, and Rayse became even worse than he initially was over millenia or more of holding Odium.

However, could it be that smaller amounts of Investiture still influence a person?

For example, every native of a world has some small amount of Investiture granted by the controlling Shards to give them sentience and a soul. Does that mean that people on Threnody are a little more ambitious, people on Scadrial more concerned with preserving, and people on people on Roshar more honorable, or more cultivated (or more hateful?).

Or when someone takes up huge amounts of Investiture without becoming a Shard, as the Lord Ruler did, does it influence them? The Lord Ruler, for example, presided over a technologically and culturally stagnant empire, a state which he brutally enforced. Of course, Ruin corrupted him, but that seems in line with the influence of Preservation.

Does possessing levels of Investiture below that of a Shard influence people?

Answer 1

Yes

We know Shards change people per the quote you provide in the OP.

Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him.
_{The Way of Kings - Chapter 18: Highprince of War}

We know that extreme use of investiture changes humans.

They are called Allomantic savants. Men or women who flare their metals so long, and so hard, that the constant influx of Allomantic power transforms their very physiology.

In most cases, with most metals, the effects of this are very slight. Bronze burners, for instance, often become bronze savants without knowing it. Their range is expanded from burning the metal so long. Becoming a pewter savant is dangerous, as it requires pushing the body so hard in a state where one cannot feel exhaustion or pain. Most accidentally kill themselves before the process is complete, and in my opinion, the benefit isn't worth the effort.

Tin savants, however... now, they are something special. Endowed with senses beyond what any normal Allomancer would need—or even want—they become slaves to what they touch, hear, see, smell, and taste. Yet, the abnormal power of these senses gives them a distinct, and interesting, advantage.
_{The Hero of Ages - Chapter 16}

Additionally, the creator of the being affects their personality.

Does the intent/personality of the Shard affect the personalities of the humans they create?

It has some very small effect.
_{Brandon Sanderson during Q&A}

And we can see this in the Alethi being hyperly concerned about honor (Honor)[1], and the Skaa creating a religion around Survival (Preservation).

So to answer your question: "However, could it be that smaller amounts of Investiture still influence a person? Does possessing levels of Investiture below that of a Shard influence people?" Yes, the sliver (not the same as a Sliver) that is imbued during creation affects the human. Using the Investiture of a Shard further changes a person. And becoming the Vessel of a Shard changes the individual most of all.

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Footnotes:

_{[1]: New information has rendered this potentially inaccurate. It is unknown at this time what the correct information is.}

Answer 2

Cosmere Spoilers

I think it is difficult to make a conclusion about the macro-effect of investiture at this time. The Shards obviously can have direct, though imperfect, influence on people, such as Ruin's influence on Spook. However, the Cosmere is rife with examples of how investiture does not homogenize its users to the will of the Shard.

There is plenty of evidence, however, that the use of investiture grants that Shard a more direct line of influence with those who use it. The Kandra, Koloss, Parsh Regals/Fused are some examples of this. This influence is deep, but not naturalizing. The Shard can take control of these people, but their inner will and character does not necessarily change. The Kandra (at least some) fought for Preservation until Ruin took control in the end. The Heralds betrayed one of their own at Aharietiam, not to mention Roshar (at least in their minds), despite being flush with the investiture of Honor.

I don't think that the humans in the Cosmere are inherently more akin to their Shards, though we still have only seen the tip of the iceberg here.