Determinants of Behavior: A Look at Genetic and Environmental Influence

Abstract

The debate of how much "nature" or "nurture" shapes a person's qualities is referred to as "nature vs. nurture." "Nature" refers to intrinsic biological characteristics (specifically genetics), whereas "nurture" refers to upbringing and life experience in general. Though it is still a contentious issue, the conflict between nature and nurture existed at least for thousands of years, in the form of ancient Greek theories about personality. Throughout the course of the modern era, theories that focus on the significance of either biological nature or learning and experience have swung back and forth in popularity, with genetics becoming increasingly recognized as a powerful influence on individual differences in the late 20th century and later.
The current paper looks at how nature and nurture work together to forge human development, with the interplay between these forces currently viewed as an interdependent dynamic, rather than a competition. The new view, based on behavioral genetics and epigenetics, is one that transcends the simplistic either-or model, recognizing that our genetic master plan is not an unchangeable fate. Rather, our inherited tendencies (nature) guide the environments we look for, choose, or construct (Gene-Environment Correlation), and our environmental influences, especially those of early life, can chemically alter the expression of our genes (epigenetic changes). It also seeks to examine the detrimental impact of nurture upon human development. Specifically, adverse experiences, such as neglect, trauma, or chronic stress (negative nurture), can profoundly and detrimentally alter psychological and physiological development.