Nature / Nurture or Both !

The controversy over what determines who we are, whether it is Nature
(heredity, our biological make up) or Nurture (our environment) is taking a new
shape. Through the past decades, psychologists have developed different theories
to explain the characteristics of human-beings; how we feel, think and behave.
Usually, these theories were one directional in the nature / nurture question.
Today, a new approach to deal with this question is emerging. This new approach
finds a middle ground between nature and nurture. The conclusion that nature and
nurture are complementary and work hand and hand to shape a behavior (a
purposeful and meaningful activity) is not a compromise; it is a result of   a
vigorous study of each of   the components of the equation of   heredity and
environment and their affects on determining one's development and behavior.   In
fact, the more we understand about development   and behavior, the more obvious
it becomes that nature and nurture are similarly influences rather than
determinants, not only singly but also in combination. Here below, I will
endeavour to expose the leading theories dealing with the question of nature vs.
nurture. I will also try to present the third, new-emerging approach meant to
solve the mystery of " What is it that makes us who we are?"

"Our genes made us. We animals exist for their preservation and are
nothing more than their throwaway survival machines." This is what Richard
Darwin states in his book: The Selfish Gene. In his international best seller
book, he argues that we are merely a product of our genes and our main purpose
in life is to serve the genes, become distribution agents and ensure their
proliferation. Before we take any stand to   Darwin's statement, let us
familiarize ourselves with what is meant when the term nature   is used. Nature
represents what we are born with and cannot control. Our biological make up is
determined by the genes we receive from our parents(reside in...