Nature vs. Nurture

Do you think that behavior is due to environmental factors (nurture) or innate tendencies (nature)? Provide an example of a behavioral characteristic and explain how it may have developed through the influence of experience, heredity, or both.

Next, considering Darwin's principle of natural selection, give two examples of structural or behavioral characteristics that might confer selective advantages to human beings over other animals.

By Saturday, March 19, 2016, post your answers to the Discussion Area, thoroughly explaining your answers and using scholarly references to support your argument. Review and respond to at least three classmates' discussion posts through Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Share your perspectives on their topics and offer your interest in and experience with the topics they have chosen.

The nature v nurture debate has been ongoing since the beginning of time.  As you complete the assignments and readings in this course, I encourage you to think about the role that genetics and the environment play in terms of who we are and how we behave.  Although we receive 50% of our DNA from our mothers and 50% from our fathers, thus making up our genetic composition, what does this mean in terms of our behaviors?...personalities?   How do the things that we learn from others and from our environment contribute to our behaviors, personalities, and to us in general?