Nature verses Nurture

[Jon]

What governs how we think? Is it encoded in our genes, or is it a result of environmental influence? Where does the balance lie? Express as a percentage if you can. e.g. 70% nature, 30% nurture.

I think, therefore I am. But do you think that because of your genes or the environment?

 

[fatmt]

I have been wondering about that one for most of my life. Then I came across this

 

[Jon]

That looks like an interesting video, and I would watch it if I had the time. Can you give us the one sentence synopsis? Where does the balance lie?

 

[fatmt]

There's no one sentence synopsis.

The video explains the dangers of 'thinking in categories' (two such categories possibly being nature and nurture), and drives viewers towards a much more nuanced approach. There is no simple way to answer it.

 

[Jon]

I remember from psychology classes at university, they talked about some responses built into babies. They are lessons inherited from the whispers of 10,000 years.

 

[fatmt]

I was incorrect when I wrote "There's no one sentence synopsis. " - what I should have written was "there is no easy answer to where the balance lies, because the balance changes according to person and situation".

There is, in fact, a segment long just over 1 minute, which gives you a sense of what the whole discussion is about.

Play the video from this point - the end of the segment is at 7:26 min

 

[Jon]

He is a very interesting speaker on a very interesting topic. I found it alarming when he said my heart will stop beating though!