Nature Versus Nurture

Question

Jollyman was looking for a new topic to debate that is not related to politics.  I thought this might be a good one.  

As individuals, do you think we are who we are because of genetics or is it because of the way we were raised.  I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this topic.

Savas · Answer

Genetics is merely the "potential", ie; the genes you carry contain the code that says what you are capable of to differing degrees.

However, our upbringing is what we learn. So someone with, say, a genetic marker for alcoholism isn't necessarily going to become a drunk. They just have a higher percentage chance of becoming one than someone without the gene.

toss in an alcoholic parent, and the likelihood of alcoholism increases greatly. But it still isn't an absolute guarantee.

kitty51 · Answer

Well I think part of it is conditioning and partly genetic.I met my dad after 34 years and i have a similar personality ,but on the parenting side of things,i couldnt bare not to see my kids weekly.let alone years.

purpleflower · Answer

I say both and I think we all have are own personality when we are born. some of the little thing we do are genetics. My dad was adopted and his sister would keep telling my parent that I look like his biomom, this summer my parents went a met his biomom he has know about her her whole life and knon were she lived but this was the first time they met and she the showed them lots of pictures of her and my mom could not see why my aunt thought that but decided it was because I must have done a lot of the same mannorisms as her. I should add my aunt knew my dads biomom and almost adopted my dad to begin with but thats another story

TrudieC · Answer

This subject interests me because of the background I came from.  My parents divorced when I was 4 and my brother was 2.  My mother stayed out of my life until I was 18.  My father remarried when I was 9 to a woman with a 9 year old boy and 4 year old girl.  After they married my Dad and Stepmother had 2 more boys.  We all consider ourselves brothers and sisters.

We all turned out rather dysfunctional (who isn't these days) and I am considered (my Stepmother even said this to me) the most normal one.  My stepbrother and stepsister both inherited mental health issues from their mother but in their 40's are finally getting their stuff together.  My two younger brothers became homebodies with one still living at home wth my parents at 33 and the other one getting his first girlfriend and then marrying two years ago at 34.  My brother and I (from my Mother and Father) are the only ones who moved away from home and invested heavily in our careers.  I find it difficult to determine if our differences by who our birth parents were are a result of nature or nurture.

The funny thing is that growing up I developed weird eating habits that I wouldn't have known were the same as my mother's, went on to have similiar jobs to her and once I had a relationship found that my personality is extraordinarily like hers.  Anyway, food for thought!

margypops · Answer

Mostly from our childhood enviroment I know an adopted child who has all the traits of the parents, he was adopted by at 6 weeks old,however I think we have a lot of the Physical traits from our genetics, I never knew my gran ma but I still have her habit of winding my hair around my fingers when I am thinking , I was told she did that all the time.

RockRose · Answer

I think basic personalities and likes and dislikes are set at birth.  Separated at birth twin studies are AMAZING - separated twins ending up with nearly identical spouses,  the same oddball brand toothpaste,  same careers,  etc.

You can learn skills taught by good parents (or bad ones,  I guess) that help you get along socially or help you get a good career,  but I firmly believe that personality is there at birth.

Cherie762 · Answer

I think its because of the way we were raised, exceptinon being genetic traits like add, diabeates thryoid. etc---I would love an adopted  or step kid as much as my own



Interestin man across street has a very particular stance when he walks, his adopted son walks exactly the same odd way,we as young children learn through observation.

Sunnyd210 · Answer

Well Im not an expert lol but I do have an opinion. Ok my ex has 2 other kids (well really 3 but his new baby doesnt count yet lol) and my son he has contact with but the other son who is older than mine has only seen him once in life and guess what!!?? Yep you got it they are way too much alike its very strange

crabby70 · Answer

I say both to....

alienshadow · Answer

I am looking an expert to give me an answer (stay tuned lol)

lovethebops · Answer

I would have to agree with others, I couldn't say one more than the other, I say both...However, it depends on the individual as well, one could be a certain way because of either more of one way or the other. Or a direct balance of both.

AHP84 · Answer

I believe it's a combination of both. We are all born with a unique personality, and the strengths or weaknesses of a personality develops according to the type of environment in which it's raised during the most formative years of childhood and adolescence.