Nature vs. Nurture?

Question

Is there such thing as a “true” or “inner” self? How much of who we are is acquired or learned?

Answer 1

Boy it's been a while but let me see if I can explain. Humans are born with certain reflexes such as rooting for their mothers nipple and sucking. Those two things can be categorized under nature. Training a toddler to use the potty is nurture, something he or she has to be taught. Every one s born with a certain fortitude (personality). Now what ever kind of environment this child is raised in determines how this personality will develop.

Answer 2

This is always a fun question. The truth is that nature and nurture are so intertwined that there can be no separation, nurture has an effect on the nature (a caring parent provides a better environment), and nature has an effect on the nurture (parents without money or enough food can't spend as much time playing and reading to kids etc.).
Both nature and nurture begin even before our mother knows she is pregnant. The environment of the womb determines our growth rate, the availability of nutrients etc, which changes how we grow and develop. By our growth we change our womb environment and the cycle continues.
There is an "inner" self but it is born of what we see, what we hear, what we experience as well as the tools we have to interpret those experiences.

Answer 3

That's a debate that's been going on for a few centuries now! For what it's worth, here's my take on it (BTW, I am a sociologist/historian):

I see not two, but three factors at work in explaining individual behavior/thought. One is "nature"--clearly we are influenced by our physical makeup, by the level and kinds of mental and phycal attributes we have. But we are also social beings--and we think in terms of the symbols, ideas, and assumptions we learn from others, in a myriad ways--not just formal education. That, ultimately is a stronger determinant of individual action (barring extraordinary circumstance, such as a severe intellectual disability).

But I also see a third factor--individual choice. Ultimately, each person has at their disposal their own attributes (nature part) and the sumtotal of their knowledge in all its forms (nurture)--but still can choose alternative paths in given situations. Some argue that these choices are predetermined by nature/nurture. I don't buy it--you can make that arguement only by pushing the "influence " perspective to the pooint of the absurd and it becomes a tautology, claiming essentially "if we just had more data about the influences on this individual, we'd see the pre-determined nature of his/her actions." Ultumately, that becomes no more than an ad hoc arguement. Nature/nurture exerts strong influences, of course--and often defines the range of choices we have--but it does not compel, nor does it rule out out infdividual choice.

Answer 4

Some scientists think that people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or even "animal instincts." This is known as the "nature" theory of human behavior. Other scientists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the "nurture" theory of human behavior.

Fast-growing understanding of the human genome has recently made it clear that both sides are partly right. Nature endows us with inborn abilities and traits; nurture takes these genetic tendencies and molds them as we learn and mature. End of story, right? Nope. The "nature vs nurture" debate still rages on, as scientist fight over how much of who we are is shaped by genes and how much by the environment. ()

So, was the way we behave engrained in us before we were born? Or has it developed over time in response to our experiences? Researchers on all sides of the nature vs nurture debate agree that the link between a gene and a behavior is not the same as cause and effect. While a gene may increase the likelihood that you'll behave in a particular way, it does not make people do things. Which means that we still get to choose who we'll be when we grow up.

Answer 5

Turn your question into a statement. Nature VIA nurture.

Answer 6

This answer will vary according to which theories you believe in. Are you a realist or a phenomenologist? Realists will say its nature that makes us this way as in the "laws" make us to do these, phenomenologists will argue and say there are no laws n thus its nuture, and that things we do is how we interpret them to be and not how we are governed to be.
which are you?
Realist or Phenomenologist?