Is every skill in life learned?

Question

For instance: is a person's skill at, say, putting people at ease totally learned from their environment or is there some genetics involved?

Answer 1

This remains a controversial nature vs nurture topic. I do want to add another element that is important - Feral Children.

There have been cases of small children being raised by animals or in such isolated environments that the nurture aspect of the equation has been nearly eliminated.

Below are two links to these sites:
http://www.feralchildren.com/en/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_child

The topic is fascinating (and sad) and adds a great deal of insight to this debate.

It is an established fact that children have only so much time to develope important portions of their brain. This is in the early childhood stage of development. After a certain age, if human contact is unavailable, these children can no longer function as fully developed human beings.

A girl saved from an abusive household where she was locked up all her life has never been able to recover mentally. A boy raised by dogs, still gets on all fours and growls years after therapy.

We need human contact to maintain our humanity. We need this contact very early in life. It provides predisposition to genetic traits the chance to develope. Without it, we are what we live.

This does not end the nature/nurture issue. Nurturing is vital. Our genetic makeup, makes it possible to mimic and even recreate the brain in order to survive in the environment in which we have been raised. It is a testament to evolution (or god or other higher power) that the human capacity for survival is built inside all of us.

It also remains clear that both elements are important and while certain genetic traits are passed on, they need the proper household to flourish.

.

Answer 2

Not every skill is learned. Some people are just born with a gift. I happen to be a very good carpenter, yet nobody ever taught me how to do this work. You can read, watch, be told, about anything, but some people just have a natural ability. I know how to play basketball...I know the fundamentals, but yet, I don't have the physical coordination to be any good at it. Just wanted to give you an example or 2.

Answer 3

When I was growing up, we were taught in science courses that the "nature/nurture" mix was 50-50. Today, research has it at 80% genetic and only 20% tops for environment. Wait until you see your grandchildren in the flesh someday. It's stunning how much of our behaviors and talents are genetic.

Answer 4

I think that's a matter of wording. Technically, a skill is something learned. One that comes naturally could be considered and inclination towards, or a talent.

All of us have things we are naturally good at, but I believe that even with these things, we learn how to best use them.

Answer 5

I think skills that you are best at come naturally, but can be improved upon with practice