The debate on whether genetics and hereditary factors or the way a person was raised and the people they have associated themselves with affects the development of an individual more has been a longstanding one, with valid arguments coming from both sides. It is difficult to determine which one of these factors has a more impactful effect on a person’s life and future actions, as both genetics and childhood environment shape an individual's personality, intelligence and behaviour and each individual can be affected differently by these factors. To a certain extent, both of these factors are intertwined and are essential to human development.
On one side, nature refers to genetics and hereditary factors which are passed down to children from their biological parents and can determine certain personality traits. Researchers estimate that approximately 20 to 60% of an individual’s temperament is influenced by genetics. Some philosophers, such as Descartes, suggested that certain factors are inborn or occur naturally regardless of environmental influences, with the famous French philosopher being committed to the belief that innate ideas dictate one’s knowledge of the nature of reality, not external factors.
On the other side, nurture refers to all of the external or environmental factors that affect human development such as the way a person was raised, an individual’s socio-economic status, early childhood experiences and possible trauma, education and daily habits. Theorists such as John B. Watson argued for the nurture side of the nature vs. nurture debate. He believed that everything is built into a child through their interactions with their surrounding environment. Thus, according to J.B. Watson, parents and caregivers hold complete responsibility for their children’s actions since they choose the environment in which their child is brought up.
Epigenetics is the study of how a person’s behaviours and their surrounding environment or entourage can cause changes that affect the way the information in their genes is expressed and used by their organism, influencing a person’s health and personality traits. It is an emerging field, which further demonstrated the link between genetics and environmental factors, while also having implications for understanding human development, evolution, certain diseases and aging.
In conclusion, the nature vs. nurture debate cannot simply conclude in favour of one side, as both a person’s genetic inheritance and the environment in which they were raised in are influential in their development as a member of our society and one factor’s impact cannot be calculated for each individual.
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