Nature vs. Nurture and People´s Genetic makeup

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The nature vs. nurture controversy has been one of the oldest and most incessant debates throughout history. The disputation of this debate has generated numerous hypotheses, and explorations by various researchers, however, it has not been clearly determined as to whether a person is biologically determined or whether they are shaped by the environment. Nature’s theory holds that a person’s mental ability is sustained by what he or she is born with genetically. Conversely, the argument that a person’s environment plays a large role in his or her mental aptitude is nurture. Despite the numerous and overwhelming experiments that have been fulfilled by theorists who support the nature theory, I strongly believe that the environment around a person, on the other hand, is ever-changing and offers more opportunities for growth and variation. Many scientists have accepted that people’s genetic makeup shape both their physical and mental capabilities. Thus, their characteristics such as eye color and hair color are mainly determined by specific genes which are nested in each human cell. Moreover, the nature theory conceptualizes on traits such as intelligence, aggression; personality and sexual orientation are also embedded in a person’s DNA. A continuous debate arises confirming that the genetic makeup of individuals may be linked to criminal acts. For example, with regards to Nature being a cause of Juvenile Delinquency, this suggests that the juvenile was born with the trait, and they are innate. "In Iowa, the first adoption study was conducted that looked at the genetics of criminal behavior. The researchers found that as compared to the control group, the adopted individuals, which were born to incarcerated female offenders, had a ... ... middle of paper ... ...vironment but are not genetically identical, they help us to see the influence of environmental factors (Segal, 69). These factors are all valuable to the environmentalist argument. In addition, if environment didn't play a part in determining an individual's traits and behaviors, then identical twins should, theoretically, be exactly the same in all respects, even if reared apart. Nevertheless, a number of studies show that they are never exactly alike, even though they are remarkably similar in most respects. Nevertheless, both heredity and environmental factors are important in constructing human behavior; however, I believe that the most prevalent one responsible for shaping our mental abilities and behaviors is the environment. To an extent, heredity serves its purpose; but further growth and development is established by the environment's influence on persons.

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