It’s one of the oldest debates of psychology—nature versus nurture. One side of the argument is that an individual’s development is predisposed in the DNA. Biological psychology stresses that genetics and biological influences are responsible for making us who we are. Behaviorism centers on the impact that environment has on behavior.

Nature or Nurture? If a person accomplishes academic success, did he achieve it because he was genetically predisposed to be successful? Or, is it because of his enriched environment?

While the debate continues to go back and forth about nature versus nurture, most experts today say that both of these factors play a crucial role in who we are.

Nature

Nature is about the genes and hereditary factors that comprise who we are. The coding of genes in each cell determines our different traits, such as eye and hair color, height, and even the size of our ears. But, it’s not known whether other attributes, such as personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, likes and dislikes are coded in the genes in our DNA as well.

An issue of constant debate is if there’s an existing “gay gene” that explains that gays are born that way. Are people who commit criminal acts or have aggressive behavior that way because of behavioral genes?

  • Philosophers like Plato and Descartes believed that some things are inborn—they occur naturally no matter what the environmental factors are.
  • Some people believe all of our characteristics and behaviors are the result of evolution. Genetic traits from parents are influential in what makes each person an individual (or unique).
  • Behavioral genes seem to exist in the situation of fraternal twins. When they are raised apart, they show many of the same behaviors and responses as if they were raised together.
  • The Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Helsinki revealed research in 2013 that suggested that individuals with exceptional musical talent are gifted with specific genetic mutations. These mutations accelerate the individuals to comprehend and learn, and they were found to be a critical factor in the release of serotonin—a key factor in creative thinking. Genetic makeup determining creativity is interesting in light of the fact that some people are born with these genetic mutations, while other people are not. The research argues that nature makes the decision about creativity.

Nurture

The variables in the environment that impact who we are is nurture. This encompasses experiences from childhood, the way were were raised, our relationships and our culture. In the nurture theory, genetic influences exist, but environmental factors are the true origins of behavior. An example is the use of conditioning to encourage a new behavior in a child—or to stop an unwanted behavior.

  • John Locke, a philosopher whose ideas were a precursor to behaviorism, believed people’s behaviors are externally determined. He said the mind begins as a blank slate and everything that makes up the individual and all of the knowledge he has is because of his experiences.
  • John B. Watson, one of the psychologists that believed learning was the dominate part in nature versus nurture, said people could be trained to do and achieve anything—no matter what their genetic background is. He said he could train a baby chosen at random from a group of a dozen babies to become any kind of specialist he wanted. Watson said he could train the infant no matter what his potential, race or talents are.
  • Arguments for nurture also exist in the case where fraternal twins raised apart had exceptional similarities. The environment had caused many differences in the way the two individuals behaved.

The Interaction of Nature and Nurture

There are a few examples that seem to justify that nature and nurture are partners that are both at work to make people who they are.

Take the example of “perfect pitch.” This is a person’s ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without having any reference. Researchers believe this ability runs in families and might be related to one gene. But, they have also found that having that one gene is not enough to develop the ability for perfect pitch—a person needs musical training during childhood to ensure the ability is able to progress.

Nature V Nurture: Which is in Control?

What about a person’s height? A child might have a family where everybody is tall, inheriting those genes. But, if he grows up not having the proper nutrition, he may not reach the height he could have if he grew up in a healthier environment.

Nature and Mental Health

It has been proven that nature—genetics—plays an important role in the development of some mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression, but it’s not the whole story. Mental illness is not entirely genetic. In the case of identical twins, one develops schizophrenia. The other one has a 50 percent chance to develop it. This example shows that nature is an important factor in the twin developing schizophrenia, but it’s not the only factor at play.

In individuals with addictions, researchers believe that nature plays the bigger role. Addictions can run in families, and certain genes may have power over how alcohol tastes and affects the body.

Nurture and Mental Health

People may have a predisposition for an illness because of genetics. However, the probability that they will develop the illness is due in part to their environment. When people have the information that they may develop a mental illness, they can use nurturing behavior in ways that the condition may not develop or may progress less severely.

Neuroscientist James Fallon found out he had a psychopathic brain. But, Fallon strongly believed that because he grew up in a nurturing environment, it helped him to become a success. It was nurture, he believed, that prevented him from developing the traits of psychopathy.