Nature or Nurture?

[Teaos]

Pretty simple question.

Do you believe someones physical or mental state decided before they are born or created during their childhood?

Is someone a born criminal? Does the apple fall far from the tree? Are fat people doomed to be fat due to their genes or lifestyle?

Is someone born smart or are smart people created?

Personally I believe we are all predisposed to certain things like being fat or thin and to some extent intelligece but I believe these traits are only the most basic building blocks and the majority of someones being is formed during their up bringing.

[Tsukiyumi]

Pretty simple question.

Do you believe someones physical or mental state decided before they are born or created during their childhood?

Is someone a born criminal? Does the apple fall far from the tree? Are fat people doomed to be fat due to their genes or lifestyle?

Is someone born smart or are smart people created?

Personally I believe we are all predisposed to certain things like being fat or thin and to some extent intelligece but I believe these traits are only the most basic building blocks and the majority of someones being is formed during their up bringing.

That's a tough question, Teaos, as we can only form opinions on the subject based on personal experience. A lot of my... "questionable" attributes were inherited, and slightly influenced by my parents.

However, I'm a somewhat unique case: My father was injured on the job, and slept 16 hours out of the day; I rarely saw him, or talked to him. My mother worked two jobs, so I rarely saw or talked to her. I developed my own opinions, and my own code of ethics. Personally, I think I did quite well, but someone else might interpret my demeanor and mindset as a result of the lack of parental input. It's all a matter of perspective.

[Teaos]

Oh there have been a lot of studies on this. This is just for what we think by our own experiences.

Personally I have seen to much veriation in families to put to much into the nature catagory.

[Mikey]

I think there's too much information out there to either: discount genetic pressure, OR believe in a completely inbuilt, Chomsky-type mechanism. I believe there are genetic predispositions, which may be either enhanced or counterindicated by socialization.

[Reliant121]

I think its a combination of both. Genetics definately have an influence in my view, sense of humour can often be attributed to your parents (Mine is almost identical to dads, only i'm more sophisticated than him ). But Lifestyle and environment is also a factor. Criminals are more likely to have come from deprived neighbourhoods and such.

[Mikey]

And research can be made to fit any bias that the researcher may have. There was a famous study in New Jersey in the early part of the twentieth century about the "Kallikak" genealogy, and the "feeble-minded," criminal and licentious side vs. the moral, intelligent, and prosperous side; and the positive and negative traits on each side being hereditary (Mendel's research was still fairly young.) Of course, it completely ignored things like crime rates being higher due to outside pressures on the side of the family that lived under the poverty line; "intelligence" and cognitive tests coming in lower for the side of the family which was disenfranchsied from education; etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kallikak_Family

[Teaos]

I dont think things like sense of humor could be genetic. It would come from the people you are around as your brain forms.

[Reliant121]

i was trying to find an example but failed. so i used that.

[Mikey]

I dont think things like sense of humor could be genetic. It would come from the people you are around as your brain forms.

A-ha! Your brain could very well be predisposed to forming a certain way (in this case, with certain connections between the limbic and logic centers) which would lend itself to a sense of humor. This would either be hindered by growing up in a dour, serious family; or aided by growing up in a fun-loving one. Perfect example of support for the combination of nature and nurture.

[Monroe]

I think a lot of times people overlook checmicals that effect the epigenomes. Everyone has genes for different things and its life expriences and diet that turn them on and off. I think that's a strong third answer to Nature-Nurture that a lot of people overlook.

[Mikey]

I don't think it's a separate answer at all; rather, I think it's a good point that is bound with inborn vulnerability or immunity to physical environmental factors.

[stitch626]

Personally I believe we are all predisposed to certain things like being fat or thin and to some extent intelligece but I believe these traits are only the most basic building blocks and the majority of someones being is formed during their up bringing.

I agree 100%. Ok, maybe 99.99% (because only fools are 100% sure of anything )

Analogy, genetics (nature) suggest a person will have dark hair, but using bleach (nurture) will make it light.

[Teaos]

Being predisposed to being Fat doesnt mean that you will be fat if you run everyday and eat salad.

If your predisposed to being smart but do nothing but watch TV you will be dumber than someone who tries at school.

[Mikey]

Being predisposed to being Fat doesnt mean that you will be fat if you run everyday and eat salad.

If your predisposed to being smart but do nothing but watch TV you will be dumber than someone who tries at school.

Exactly! Now, if you have a thyroid condition, you may be fat or skinny no matter what you do. But just having a genetic bent towards being heavy can be overcome by lifestyle.

[shran]

Intelligence is heavily influenced by the enviroment you live in. Just look at idiocracy. http://www.megavideo.com/?v=WZ9XXSOG