Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Is our environment a driving force in who we are and how we behave?

Yes.  A person's environment is not only a driving force, but it is a critical factor in determining how a person behaves.  At the core of your question is the classic nature vs. nurture debate.  Is a person's behavior determined by the genes that they are born with (nature), or is behavior a result of outside factors (nurture)?  


Science has been attempting to answer that debate for quite some time, and one tool that scientists use is twin studies.  Various studies have shown similar behavior traits in twins that have been separated at birth.  That is great evidence for the nature side of the debate.  But at the same time, there are plenty of children that have been adopted that exhibit incredibly similar behaviors to their non-adopted siblings.  That is great evidence toward the nurture side of the debate.  


Personally, I think the debate isn't worth the time being invested.  I don't believe that one factor is more critical than another.  I do believe that both factors are very important in determining behavior though.  Genetically, a person could be as gentle as a kitten; however, that person could be taught to overcome those feelings and become more aggressive.  

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