Nature or Nurture?

What do you think about this age old debate? Which has more influence on the way people think and act?

Originally posted by ianpickering
What do you think about this age old debate? Which has more influence on the way people think and act?

I believe the enviroment in which a person is raised is far more influential on how he'll turn out than his gene pool.

do some research and it becomes pretty clear. Nurture accounts for about 80% of our behavoural patterns, as shown by studies when a baby is adopted from one culture and raised in another. But the other 20% controled by your genetic makeup is a strong guiding force in your choices in life, shown the similarities between identical twins who were separated at birth (eg. both having sciwentific jobs, both riding motorbikes...)

Originally posted by ianpickering
What do you think about this age old debate? Which has more influence on the way people think and act?

I strongly suggest that any interested parties read Seven Pinker's book "The Blank Slate." He treats this complex topic with compassion and lucidity.
BVB