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Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

The nature vs. nurture debate has been ongoing for centuries, and scholars have not yet determined which has a greater impact on an individual’s behavior and personality . Nature, referring to heredity, and nurture, referring to the environment, provide very reasonable explanations for why we are the individuals that we are today. Both sides have developed good theories as to why nature or nurture has greater influence on us.

Nature is dependent on the genetics of an individual, which determines both their appearance and the character. In contrast, nurture is determined by the environmental factors that an individual is exposed to that shape them. People are influenced, to a certain extent, by both nature and nurture.

Essentially, human characteristics are determined by genetic predispositions that are largely natural. Parents normally pass on hereditary traits to their children. The genetic combination of an individual determines such characteristics as height, weight, susceptibility to certain illnesses and skin color. As a result, blood relatives tend to have almost uniform genetic combinations. Furthermore, other behavioral and personality characteristics are also influenced by genetic factors and are typically inherited. These genes can influence how we develop from childhood to adulthood.

Nurture, our environmental and societal factors, also play an important role in shaping an individual’s behavior. Factors such as family dynamics, education and socioeconomic status can have a significant impact on an individual’s behavior and development. It has been shown that children who are raised in supportive and nurturing environments are more likely to develop healthy social skills and emotional regulation than those who are raised in environments that are neglectful or abusive. Moreover, societal factors, such as cultural norms and expectations, can influence an individual’s behavior and development.

Nurture involves the acquisition of specific attributes from the environment in which we are raised. An infant, for example, is born with an empty mind. By observing, learning and aping the behaviors of the people around them, infants will acquire traits through their interactions with the environment. How an individual was raised or nurtured will have a profound impact on their development as a child.

Different types of relationships also play an important role in nurturing, especially during a child’s development. The love and affection children receive from their parents cause them to develop emotional attachments to them. Furthermore, children who receive care and affection will likely reciprocate the same when they reach adulthood. In contrast, children who receive harsh treatment from their parents may withdraw emotionally as they grow older. By studying the speech of others around them, young children also attempt to learn how to speak and what to say. Children’s cognitive development is influenced by the exposure they receive and the conditions in which they are raised.

The nature and nurture of a person are intertwined in ways that many of us do not realize, and there is ongoing confusion as to how they influence one’s personality, appearance and temperament. Genes play an important role in what kind of person we become because what we inherit is essentially what determines what type of person we will become. However, the environment has the potential to alter and develop a person even further.

Both factors play important roles in determining an individual’s behavior. It has been argued that both hereditary factors and environmental factors contribute to the development of mental disorders in individuals. There is a close interaction between the biological combinations of individuals and the socio-cultural environment in which they live. 

In conclusion, we are products of both nature and nurture. Even though genetics may influence certain behaviors and traits, environmental and societal factors also play an important role in shaping an individual’s behavior.

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.