“Nature vs Nurture”

Determining whether our personality is shaped by our surroundings (nurture) or by

our genes (nature) is one of the oldest and most contentious problems in psychology. While
some contend that our experiences and relationships with others mold who we are, others
counter that some qualities and skills are set and unchangeable from birth. In this paper, I
will contend that while both nature and nurture have a significant impact on how our
personalities develop, nurture has a greater influence.

Firstly, because our environment shapes our gene expression, I believe nurture to be
more important than nature. Our genes make proteins that affect our characteristics and
functions through a process known as gene expression. Nonetheless, extrinsic influences
like stress, nutrition, or social support can change gene expression, which is dynamic. A
study conducted in 2003 by Caspi et al., for instance, discovered that individuals with a gene
variant that elevated their risk of depression were more likely to suffer depressive events in
life if they had the same gene variant than if they did not. This indicates that our surroundings
can change the consequences of our genes and that they are not predetermined.

Secondly, I believe that nurture has a greater influence than nature because of the
chances and challenges that come with living in a certain area, which can either help or limit
our growth. A variety of stimuli, including education, culture, and the media, can be exposed
to us in our environment and influence our values, knowledge, and abilities. An investigation
conducted in 1997 by Ceci and Williams, for instance, revealed that kids who got early
childhood education performed better academically and had higher IQs than kids who
didn't. This demonstrates the impact that our surroundings have on our cognitive functions
and results.

Lastly, I believe nurture has a greater influence than nature is because of the way that
our surroundings shape our social interactions and relationships, which in turn shape our
feelings, thoughts, and actions. Our surroundings can give us the social support, criticism,
and role models we need to develop our identity, drive, and sense of self. In contrast to
children who saw a non-aggressive model or no model at all, children who witnessed an
adult model acting aggressively toward a doll were more likely to emulate similar behavior,
according to a 1961 study by Bandura et al. This demonstrates how our surroundings might
affect how we develop social skills and behave aggressively.
 On the other hand, since our genes determine our physical and mental traits,
including our height, weight, IQ, and personality, some could counter that nature has a
greater impact than nurture. Some may contend that our genes are passed down from our
parents and ancestors and that they remain constant throughout our lifetimes. Studies on
the strong heritability of particular traits, like IQ, temperament, or mental illnesses, may also
be cited by them. For instance, genetic factors explained 52% of the variance in the IQ scores
of twins aged 11 years, according to a study conducted in 2013 by Plomin et al. This
demonstrates how our cognitive capacities are greatly influenced by our genetic makeup.

However, I think this argument is flawed, because it ignores the role of environmental
factors that can interact with our genes and affect their expression. It also overlooks the fact
that heritability is not a fixed value, but a statistic that depends on the population and the
context. Moreover, it assumes that traits are determined by single genes, rather than by
complex interactions of multiple genes and environmental factors. Therefore, I think nature
is not more influential than nurture, but rather that they both work together to shape our
personality.

In conclusion, I believe that although both nature and nurture have a significant
influence on our personalities, nurture does so more so. I believe that the things around us
have the power to shape our relationships and social interactions, as well as our gene
expression and possibilities and difficulties. These elements have the power to mold not just
our emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, but also our qualities and skills. Thus, I believe that
rather than having a set personality from birth, we create it by our experiences and
relationships with other people.