Nature vs Nurture: Do Genes Or Environment Matter More?

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Throughout the years, it has been debated whether people are born the way they will be forever or if the society they grow in creates all of their attributes. This nature versus nurture debate affects many aspects of life, including the treatment of serial killers and psychopaths, and recognition of emotional and mental disorders, the acceptance of homosexuality, and even video game regulation. The nature theory states that only a person’s genes develop their personality, while the nurture theory states that personality is developed only because of the impact of society (human). This debate has been a controversial issue since the beginning of sociology, the study of society and its impact on the humans that live in it (Stolley), and it will remain controversial due to the inability of humans to know the origins of life. Some believe that without authoritative controls, people are inherently evil and savage because of human nature and evolution, while others believe people are only products of their environment and society. If the belief that people are inherently savage and evil is correct, then it must also be true that a person’s genes are the sole component in their personalities. An example of this theory is evidence supporting the idea that serial killers are inherently evil, according to scientific studies. In a study by Dr. Richard Davidson, people with violent tendencies showed to have different brain activity than people with normal tendencies. The subjects in the study had been convicted of murder and aggressive or antisocial disorders, and showed significantly different activity than is considered normal. Areas of the brain controlling “negative and violent emotions… the impulse of emot... ... middle of paper ... ... be concluded that the most important factor in human personality and actions is the society and environment in which it is placed. Works Cited Begley, Sharon. “The Anatomy of Violence.” sirs. SIRS Knowledge Source, 2011. Web. 24 Feb. 2011. http://sks.sirs.com/bin . “human nature.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. http://www.britannica.com/ Powell, Kimberly, and James Trefil. “How Much of Human Behavior Depends on Genes?” SIRS Knowledge Source. sirs, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. http://sks.sirs.com/ Stolley, Kathy S. The Basics of Sociology. N.p.: Gale Virtual Reference Library, 2005. N. pag. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/‌gps/ . “Video Games and Violence.” Facts on File Issues and Controversies. Facts on file, 8 Dec. 2006. Web.

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