?Are we born that way??How much impact does the environment actually have on our personalities?? These are the questions that have had psychologists puzzled and intrigued for centuries, dating as far back as thirteenth century France. We may never know the answers to these questions (they have been argued for years, but no solid conclusion has ever been made), but as long as it is a suitable topic, there will always be two sides to the story.
Some scientists think that people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or evenanimal instincts.? This is known as the nature theory of human behavior. Other scientists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the nurture theory of human behavior. .
?You have your mother's deep blue eyes, but your fathers thick hair and knobby knees?. It is clear that our physical characteristics are hereditary. Scientists have known for years that specific genes handed down from your parents determine traits such as eye and hair color, but when it comes to our personality traits things become a bit vague. Intelligence, aggression and sexual orientation are things that can be argued are dependant on what kind of environment you were raised in. The nature theory brings things to a boil, saying that those more traits and more are also part of your genetic make up. In behavioral genetics it is important to note that there is no single gene for .
intelligence, personality traits, behavior, or even height. Rather, those characteristics are polygenic, or influenced by multiple genes.
Although it would provide a simple explanation for where personality traits originate, it may also lead to misuse of the nature theory. Some fear that genetic arguments may excuse or justify crimes. .
It is already established that certain physical characteristics are inherited, but believers of the nurture theory argue that you acquire specific interests, attitudes, and skills through the surrounding environment, as well as your personality.