Nature vs. nurture – have you ever wondered which one has influenced you the most? Let’s explore how nature and nurture might be affecting your success.
Think about yourself for a moment. Reflect on your personality traits, your likes and dislikes, and your habits – good and bad. Where did those come from?
They came from somewhere. Some of them were inherited from your parents or grandparents. Other tendencies you developed from observing the influences in your life. And you can tie your core beliefs to a pivotal moment or important figure in your life.
So were you born with these beliefs, habits, and traits? Or did you develop them over time as you were learning and growing?
One thing’s for sure – you’ve been impacted by both nature and nurture.
So why should the effects of nature vs. nurture matter to you? Self-reflection and improvement are essential to success in your relationships and your career. We’ve all picked up behaviors and personality traits that don’t serve our growth. But we always have a choice.
You can believe that you’re incapable of changing your nature, or you can make the decision to improve yourself and shift the tides.
I help my clients grow as individuals – in their relationships and careers – by helping them identify their fears and self-imposed limitations. We uncover the root causes of their harmful beliefs. Especially those about themselves and their abilities.
What Is the Nature vs. Nurture Debate All About?
It’s an ancient debate that will probably always keep psychologists and others in the mental health field on their toes. Like the chicken and the egg argument, the nature vs. nurture debate is one we’ll never really know the answer to.
But given you can’t have one without the other – it shouldn’t be called nature versus nurture. Your learned behaviors and innate traits have blended together to create a unique cocktail.
The nature end of the spectrum – also known as nativism – is rooted in the assumption that personality traits and skills are purely determined by genetics¹. The opposite end is nurture. And it’s based on the belief that these characteristics are a result of upbringing and external environment.
We all know it’s not so clear-cut. The person you are today is a combination of nature and nurture.
And it’s important to understand why you are the way you are. So you can work on yourself and not succumb to the idea that you’re doomed to be one way or another.
What Are the Effects of Nature vs. Nurture on Personality?
We see both extremes blown out of the water from time to time. There are twins who’ve been raised in separate households and both retained certain inherited personality traits and tendencies. Then there are those who deviate from the beliefs and behaviors that were typical of the home they grew up in.
As an adopted child, I can attest to the power of nature and nurture. I recognize my biological parent’s temperaments in me. Yet my adoptive parents influenced my work ethic and spiritual groundedness.
My adoptive mother worked hard to overcome racism and sexism. I developed her diligence and perseverance – which serves me well today. At the same time, I have my biological mother’s ability to relate well to others in a non-judgmental and compassionate, yet non-compromising, way.
I’m proof – as you are too – that nature does not yield to nurture, or vice versa. And the best part is – if you’re aware of the characteristics you possess – you can make sure they work for you and not against you.
How Can You Use Both to Your Benefit?
You should never put yourself in a box. You’re constantly experiencing new things and learning more about yourself and the world. There are several ways to make sure you’re not holding yourself back from reaching your potential in any aspect of your life.
1. Honor your experiences with both nature and nurture.
Even if there are things you want to improve about yourself – you’ve made it this far with the traits you’ve inherited by nature and the skills and habits you’ve developed by nurture.
2. Take the opportunity to improve through your awareness and understanding of yourself.
You don’t have to – and likely won’t – end up in the same place you started. You can set yourself up for success if you’re able to pinpoint why you believe something or behave a certain way.
From there you can work on strengthening those traits and habits that contribute to your growth – while watering down those that prevent you from moving forward in a positive direction.
3. Educate yourself and accept help.
When you reflect on the effects of nature and nurture on your current situation, it’s important to understand that correlation does not always equal causation. You may be more likely to inherit certain behavioral traits and physical ailments – but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any control over the outcome.
You may be genetically at risk for diabetes. But if you’re aware of the possibility, you can adjust your lifestyle to decrease your risk. While there are no guarantees in life – you can either do something about your situation or let anything and everything happen to you.
It’s never a bad idea to hire a coach or a therapist to help you work through your situation and make constructive changes in your life for the betterment of yourself and those around you.
Make Nature and Nurture Work for You
If you take nothing else from this – remember that intention is a powerful force and awareness is the key to change. You can’t control everything. But you can use your awareness to form intentional goals for self-improvement.
Don’t fall into the trap of assuming your nature is rigid and unchangeable. And don’t hold yourself back by using your experiences with nurture as an excuse for your less desirable traits.
Working with a credentialed coach can position you to take back control of your life. You are not purely a product of your experiences or your inherited traits. You’re a unique blend that’s capable of reaching new heights – if you’re willing to invest in yourself.
https://drdivanyoung.com/individual-coaching-fix-your-life-african-american-therapist/
If you’re looking for more encouragement and advice, check out my blog on how to overcome your fear of failure and achieve your goals.
https://drdivanyoung.com/struggling-to-achieve-your-goals/
Bio – Dr. D Ivan Young is an expert on human behavior and relationships. He’s a Master Credentialed expert on personality type, an ICF Credentialed Master Certified Coach Certified Professional Diversity Coach, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Dr. Young is also a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council.