NATURE vs. NURTURE in HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY
The dual aspect of the origin of human behavior has fascinated psychologists since its earliest era. On one hand, genetic inheritance is an obvious component of human behavior; on the other hand, the cumulative effects of environmental influences also contributes to it. It is well documented that specific traits such as intelligence, artistic talent (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2005), and even predisposition to various psychological ailments (Coleman, Butcher, et al., 1994; Shapiro, 1999) have a genetic basis. Still, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the effects of environment from genetics, especially since children of intelligent parents are more likely to receive better education, children of artistic parents are more likely to be exposed to art at an early age, and children of depressed parents experience different parent-child relationships by virtue of their parents' behavior.
Some of the best evidence of the innate origin of various elements of human behavior come from twin studies, particularly those involving identical twins separated at birth and raised separately. In several well documented instances, the twins pursued identical courses of academic study and career, married spouses of the same name, and even exhibited identical habits, such as their preference for a type of clothing, a brand of beer, and even a unique style of opening a beer can (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2005).
However, that environmental influences have a significant effect on the development of behavior is equally evident, even in animal studies, such as experiments involving chimpanzees exposed to various environments that produce behavior that appears contrary to their known genetic predisposition (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2005). Ultimately,
both "nature" and "nurture" likely play approximately equal roles in shaping behavior.
References
Coleman, J., Butcher, J., and Carson, R. (1994). Abnormal
Psychology and Human
Life. Dallas: Scott, Foresman & Co.
Gerrig, R., Zimbardo, P. (2005). Psychology and Life 18th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Shapiro, D. (1999). Neurotic Styles. New York: Basic Books.
