Who We are is Determined by the Intertwined Forces of Nature or Nurture?

One of the oldest debates in the history of Psychology is about Nature versus Nurture. Today, we know that both play a significant role in human’s life. Some people believe that it is genes which affects our way of life and some people believes that it is none other but our environment that greatly influences our lifestyle and some believe that both has tremendous impact on one’s way of life. Indeed in certain cases both our nature (our genes) and our environment roughly play an equal role in human life.

The nature vs nurture issue has been a controversial argument among psychologist for decades. This argument exposes two different views. One of them emphasizes that our personality depends solely on genetics (nature). On the other hand, the second view suggests that humans “develop through experience” (Myers 2013, SG 6) (nurture).

Advances in science today suggest neither nature nor nurture is exclusively responsible, but instead an interactive relationship between our genes and environmental influences. The influence that nurture has upon nature is a new and blooming field called behavioral epigenetics.

An age-long research topic in Psychology has been the issue of nature versus nurture issue. Nature versus nurture refers to the extent to which an individual’s genetics (inherited traits) or immediate society affects his or her personal growth. A very vivid example of the role nature or nurture plays in determining will be my personality. For example, my father and mother have mild temperaments, so I was raised in a somewhat conservative home. In my case, pro-nature supporters argue that my genetic makeup will largely determine the personality traits I develop. In this case, if I inherited a mild temperament, then I will most likely reflect such personality traits. Nurture supporters on the other hand,

In society, not one person is alike. By saying this, many people believe that they strongly take after their parents. Meaning they think Nature is a big part in their life and why they are who they are. The genes in each cell in us humans determine the different traits that we have, more dominantly on the physical connections like eye color, hair color, ear size, height, and other traits. However, it is still not known whether the more abstract attributes like personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, likes and dislikes are gene-coded in our DNA. The nurture theory has experiments showing a child’s behavior with the environment as to adult behavior. In the Nature Vs Nurture debate, everyone has their own thoughts and ideas on each

From a biological perspective, nature vs. nurture plays a critical role in the development of an individual. Meaney (2010) states “The challenge within developmental psychology is that of understanding the operation of the genome and how the analysis of nucleotide-based variation can contribute to our understanding of individual differences in brain development and function at the level of cell biology, physiology, and emotional- cognitive states.” (p 45) Looking at the way genes play a role in personal development, it may become difficult to determine where physiology ends and influence from the environment begins. I believe that my genes and my environment have contributed in the development of who I am.

In many social fields the discussion of nature vs. nurture is a common theme. However, in recent discussions it is being found to be too simplistic. This argument is being rejected for two claims, according to Brian Garvey, the stronger claim states that it is possible to attribute a trait wholly to the influence of genes or wholly to the influence of the environment (Garvey, 2005). While the weaker claim states that it is possible to talk of traits more or less under the control of genes or environment. Garvey explains that both of these claims are rejected, “because it makes no sense to talk of a trait as more the product of genes than of environment (Garvey, 2005).” Since the nature vs. nurture theory deals with the stronger of the two claims,

The nature vs. nurture debate has been a debate that has lasted through the ages about what the effects of biology as well as social influences has on a person and their behavior. The “nature” side of the debate argues that people are genetically predetermined to behave and react to situations in a certain way. The “nurture” side of the debate argues that our participation in social life is the most important factor in determining who we are and how we behave. Each side of this debate has very good points to argue its validity, making hard to decide whether a person's development is predisposed in their DNA, or a majority of it is influenced by life experiences and their environment. Today, we know that both nature and nurture play important

The oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the Nature vs Nurture discussion. Both are legitimate and it is very hard to decide whether a person’s development is prone to his DNA or influenced by his life experience and environment. Presently, nature and nurture both play important role in human development. However what remains unknown is if human is developed solely because of nature or nurture. . As of now, we know that both nature and nurture play important roles in human development, but we have not known yet whether we are developed majorly because of nature or due to nurture. Nature is the collection of genes in each human cell which determines the different traits that we have such as eye/hair color,ear size, height etc.

Scientists and biologist have argued the Nature versus Nurture debate for decades. This debate argues the degree to which our genetics or environment, affects our behaviour and developmental stages. Nature is described as the genetic material that makes up an individual. Nurture can be described as the way in which the environment and experiences of an individual influence their behavior and development. The debate has centered on which is a greater factor for many years but current contemporary views accept and acknowledge the intricacy of the developmental procedure and recognize that “development is not the case of nature or nurture, but rather nature and nurture” (Howard & Walton 2015) It has been shown that genetic and environmental factors are in such continuous interactions that the emergence of particular structures and functions is the result of the dependent interaction of genetics and environment.(Lewkowicz, 2011.)

In the end we are left with a brain either debating between nature and nurture or with our heart and mind set with belief in one or the other. Are we born to be who we end up being, or do we behave accordingly to our life experiences. It is a fact that we have traits that are pre-determined through genes but we can still choose who we want to be as we travel through our life time. Researchers on all sides of the nature vs nurture

The nature-nurture debate has been around for decades. It is one of the oldest and most popular topics in the history of psychology asking what makes people who they become and how they behave and develop the way they do. What makes the debate more interesting is that now scientists are asking if personality traits and even sexual orientation can be determined by what is in already there from conception. Bodies are built up of chromosomes which contain genetic information. Many of these are inherited from parents and relatives. The nature side of the debate states the way people are is predominantly from inherited genetics and other biological factors not so much the environmental factors. The genes humans have in their bodies play a huge role to many aspects of who they are and who they become. For example, hair colour, eye colour and height are all predetermined by genes. Unchangeable. This is natures way. The argument stands to decide whether most attributes do stem from nature, genes, or if they can be affected by the environment and the way people are nurtured as they have grown. The nurture side of the argument believes although humans do have the genes and traits with which they are born, most personality traits are being made up of environmental factors. For example, being loved and cared for as children, if parents or carers were positive role models and if those people were taught in ways which provided them with discipline and respect for others. Where nature

Many people today wonder about whom they are and how they became that way. Is who we are in our genetic code? Is it a result of our surroundings? Behavioral geneticists attempt to answer these questions by studying the differences in humanity and weighing the effects and interplay of heredity and environment--nature versus nurture. Nature, or environment, is the effect of the surroundings. Nurture, or heredity, is the effect of the genes. Behavioral geneticists have found however that both play a key role in our lives, as twin studies have shown.

You got your dark brown hair from your father, and you got your looks from your mother. But where did you get your excitement for sports and your love for all animals? One’s physical characteristics lean more towards genes and heredity, but our genes are not talked about as much when behavior is the topic. This is how the nature versus nurture debate came about. Scientists who believe in the nature theory believe that people behave the way they do due to heredity and genes. On the other hand, nurture scientists believes behavior is taught and influenced by the environment and the surrounding people. Many say that behavior results from nature, while others believe in the opposite, the environment. Human development has been viewed as one of the most highly controversial topics in the world of psychology today, and this debate is nature versus nurture.

Are we who we? Is it solely based on nature, nurture or do the two both play an intricate part in our make up. This is one of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology. Each side has interesting points that make it difficult to decide whether a person’s development is decided through DNA, or is it influenced through the environment in which they grow up. We do know that both nature and nurture play important roles in human development. It is a debate that will probably continue for centuries to come.