Question

Weigh in on the nature vs nurture debate. Are our personalities developed based on what happens to us throughout our lives or is there a genetic component to how we think, feel and act? Draw on your own life experiences when necessary to answer ques.

Answer 1

One of the most important debates that is still going on is whether people are the products of their biological make-up [nature] or environmental [nurture] make-up. In my opinion, people are the products of their environment such as, parenting, family, friends, education, employment, culture, religion etc. thus, most part of their attitudes, personality, worldview etc. would depend on the way they were brought-up. Although each passing generation would add information regarding the environment in its genes and form the basis for oneself, it would be nurture or one’s environmental factors that would play a major role in developing one. Famous Behavioural psychologist John B. Watson quoted, ‘give me a dozen well formed healthy infants and I would make them whoever you want them to be such as, doctors, engineers, teachers or even thieves. This quote brings out the importance of one’s environment or nurturing in making one who one is.

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