Nature and Nurture
There has been much research on identical and non-identical twins conducted so as to explore the contributions of genes and environment to individual’s behaviors. However, there is still a big controversy over the nature-versus-nurture idea. Some people ascertain that the way people behave is determined by genes. Meanwhile, others hold the view that the experience plays a more crucial part. In this essay, I will discuss influences of “nature” and “nurture” in the way people act in life.
It is undeniable that nature occupies some importance in behavior formation. The linguist Noam Chomsky stated that “all children are born with a language acquisition device”, which helps them to learn to communicate without effort. Another argument is that a substantial part of human intelligence inherited genetically from parents rather than affected by experience has more effect than socioeconomic background on future behavior such as crime offence (Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray). In fact, some evidences suggest that there is a correlation between IQ and crime: groups with lower average IQ’s are likely to commit more crimes than those with higher IQ’s because “the relationship depends on the capability of the criminal to assess the degree of risk involved in committing a criminal act at a particular place and time.” (Robert Lindsay 2007). In addition, variation in temperament and personality is attributed to genetic factors. A typical example is that twins separated at birth often show the same interest and hobby in their whole lives.
Despite some evidences which are in favor of nature’s role in personal progression, nurture is the answer to the question why identical twins still behave differently when reared separately. Firstly, children usually learn to behave by observing and imitating the behaviors of their parents. It means that father and mother are influential people to children from their childhood to adolescence and adulthood. Beckett, C. (2002) also has
It is undeniable that nature occupies some importance in behavior formation. The linguist Noam Chomsky stated that “all children are born with a language acquisition device”, which helps them to learn to communicate without effort. Another argument is that a substantial part of human intelligence inherited genetically from parents rather than affected by experience has more effect than socioeconomic background on future behavior such as crime offence (Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray). In fact, some evidences suggest that there is a correlation between IQ and crime: groups with lower average IQ’s are likely to commit more crimes than those with higher IQ’s because “the relationship depends on the capability of the criminal to assess the degree of risk involved in committing a criminal act at a particular place and time.” (Robert Lindsay 2007). In addition, variation in temperament and personality is attributed to genetic factors. A typical example is that twins separated at birth often show the same interest and hobby in their whole lives.
Despite some evidences which are in favor of nature’s role in personal progression, nurture is the answer to the question why identical twins still behave differently when reared separately. Firstly, children usually learn to behave by observing and imitating the behaviors of their parents. It means that father and mother are influential people to children from their childhood to adolescence and adulthood. Beckett, C. (2002) also has