|
|
It is true that we are formed by our parents’ genes at the moment of conception, but it is also true that our ancestral history helped form us as a species.
An Open System
The debate in psychology of nature vs nurture is one of the oldest. It is true that we are all the product of nature and nurture, but we are also an open system. We are open to the outside social and culture influences around us. In reality, we are both the creatures and the creators of our worlds. We are the products of our genes, our early ancestral experiences, and our environment.
The Oldest Debate
There have been endless debates about our origins. Do our genes predispose both our shared human history and our individual differences? Our biological influences are our shared human genome, our individual genetic variations, our prenatal environment, and our sex-related genes, hormones and physiology.
Intelligence Must Be Fostered
In 1859 Charles Darwin’s “evolutionary theory” proposed that all our traits are inherited. Francis Galton (1822-1911) proposed in 1869, that nurture is more important than nature in his “Hereditary Genius.” However he later insisted that both nature and nurture are essential in forming personality, since even the highest natural endowments may be “starved by defective nurture.” Intelligence, he said, is inherited, but must be fostered through education.
Neurological Effects
We are also influenced by the neurological effect of early experiences, or instincts, our own beliefs, feelings and expectations, and responses that are practically automatic – caused by our own temperament, gender, etc. These are difficult to explain psychological influences.
A Lot to Learn About Motives
Behaviors and instincts can not explain all human activities. But, human behavior does exhibit certain tendencies. We all have needs or desires that energize and directs behaviors. This is called motivation. There is a lot to be learned about motives.
In addition, we are influenced by our parents, peer pressure and the culture and social environment surrounding us as well as our own independent individualism.
Break Away
So, on the one hand, we are the archetypes of our own environment, but also inhibited by our innate psychological traits. We can fail in our efforts and blame our mistakes and bad behavior on the bad genes we were born with. Or, we can blame the environment we were brought up in. Conversely we can defy the peer pressure and break away, and excel beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you toward improving your life.
Review our Knowledge Base or the links displayed on this page for similar and related topics.