Psychology

The influence of nature and nurture on us is a heavily debated topic and one that is easily identifiable for me. Nature involves the many of characterizes we inherit through our genes, often the reason why we often hear the phrases “You’re just like your father or just like your mother”.  Nurture brings in the influence of our surroundings on our behavior and personality. Some have said that the way we are raised have influenced the people we become, and it can be debated that neither nature or nurture, but a mix of the two determine this.

If one point of view based on nature is said to have the largest influence because of the amount we inherit from our parents, does this mean we inherit different characteristics also? I know we genetically carry the same hair and skin traits, but behavior? I can say I agree to this theory. On the other hand, nurture is said to be learning from the environment. I also can agree with this theory. We as people are hand and hand in adapting to our situation and surroundings. In childhood learned behavior and certain characteristics are influenced by the people we spend our time with, in example neighbors, friends, relatives but most importantly our parents.

My father and mother were not married and living in separate homes. Their parenting styles were completely different form one another. My brother, sister and I had to adapt to different ways my parents did things when they were together and when we were only with my mom or only with my dad. Rules were not the same, bedtime wasn’t the same, breakfast wasn’t the same.  I never seen my parents argue with one another or display hatred to family, peers or in any social environment. However, in the theory based on nature, my father has an intimidating demeanor, and my mother stern but easy going. My characteristics, speech, way of thinking, and

even eating are all that of my father and really just one or two from my mother if that.  In the nurture theory, being in both homes played a big role into who I am today.

Personally, I believe both nurture and nature have a large influence over who we become later in life and it could be said that they are on a balance, although every situation and different for each individual. We have the ability to change and even control our own behavior at any point in our lives, therefore it is difficult to argue that either nurture or nature has the largest impact.