This is a short analysis I just did after reading a good article on nature vs. nurture.
What is the ratio of genetic to environmental influences in understanding the source and expression of various biological and behavioral characteristics? This is the essence of the nature versus nurture debate. I got my black hair from my mother and my skin tone from my father. While it's clear that physical characteristics are hereditary, the genetic waters get a bit murkier when it come's an individual's behavior, intelligence, and personality. Ultimately, the old argument of nature vs. nurture has never really been won. We do not yet know how much of what we are is determined by our DNA and how much by our life experience. It is very hard to pinpoint a trait that one possesses, as to whether it is genetic or due to experiences and our environment. Are we products of our creation or environment? With all these things taken into account I can only make inferences and opinions. I have many qualities that I know I got from my parents so I will start off with the nurture side of the argument.
My mother alwyas told me to have a positive outlook on life. "Life is too short", she always used to teach me. Since childhood she used to urge me to not not linger on past mistakes but ask why it happened and what can I gain from it. This was always taught in my household and it was engraved in my mind to always look to the future and think positive no matter what the circumstance. This is what I relate my perseverance through any difficult times and harships that I have encountered. It wasn't an instinct I had because even as a kid I questioned it at times. This was taught I learned it through watching my mother at times of crisis even mimicking her character at times. It was impressive to see someone so composed even when things might look grim. This is something I now cherish.
The nature side of my charcteristics is a little harder to describe. The traits I have now I mostly give credit to watching my parent's reactions to situations. When can one say that I got my patience from my fathers genes. Many times I have analyzed myself, looked at any reactions after they happened and I think about what drove me to do something and most of the time I know it is something that was due to past events in my life. Taking this into consideration I look at myself and the most concrete evidence of a nature-influenced characteristic has to be my logic. My father is a very analytical person and he excels in math and logical reasoning. He shares this trait with me due in part to the fact that I always excelled in math even when putting forth no effort.. My mother was the one that used to help me with my homework due in part to her being a stay-home mother. This must come from his side because she has always hate math and does not understand the more complex versions such as trigonometry and calculus. My father had less impact on my homework than my mother and yet I always excelled in mathematics. When I have had conversations with my father on any issue we always come to an agreement on the logical aspects of any given outcome. This is the most evident trait that probably arose from my genetics. It is difficult to say for certain whether nature or nurture play a bigger role in our development I like to think of it that both have equal importance and shape who we are kind of like clay you can mold clay through outside interference but you still need the clay.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic?