Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life. Which do you consider to be the major influence?

It is obvious that we inherit physical characteristics from our parents. Much more debatable is the question of whether nature

also

has an influence on our

character

and development.

This

essay will look at the

evidence

and conclude that, in

fact

, our environment probably influences our personality more than our genetic inheritance does. Admittedly, there are some indications that our genetic make-up can have an effect on our

intelligence

. If we accept the existence of different types of

intelligence

, it is interesting to note that musical aptitude and sporting ability often seem to be passed from generation to generation.

However

, it is not always clear whether the children of musicians,

for example

, become musicians too

due to

genetics or simply

due to

greater exposure to the world of music in their early years.

Evidence

from identical twins raised apart

also

points to the importance of genetic inheritance.

Such

twins often seem to end up remarkably similar in

character

and aptitude despite the

fact

that they grew up in different environments.

However

, we should

also

acknowledge that, in other cases, twins growing up apart often wind up totally different in

character

and

intelligence

. The power of simple coincidence, in these cases, cannot be ignored. Nurture, meanwhile, has an undeniable effect on our psychological growth. We know so much today about the way children learn that it is impossible to ignore the importance of environmental factors

such

as good schooling, exposure to books and ideas, and a healthy social life

on

Change preposition

in

show examples

child development. In

fact

, the whole concept of education is predicated on the

fact

that experience can have a positive effect on

intelligence

and

character

. In conclusion,

while

there is some borderline

evidence

that genetic factors influence our mental development, there is much more convincing

evidence

that environmental factors do so.