Nature Vs. Nurture

I just finished reading a book called "The Accidental Cheerleader" by Mimi McCoy. It made me think about both the effects of nature and nurture on a person and which one is stronger.

Nature, in my opinion, are the qualities that a person is born with. Nurture are the qualities that the grow and develop as time goes on (from their parent or guardian). To support that nature is stronger, well our DNA (or genes) make up who we are as human beings (from our parents). Most people don't alter them, so that simply is who they are-and how they were born.

To support that nurture is stronger, well even though our DNA (or genes) make up who we are, we can alter that as we grow and develop. For example, a personality trait from our parents might be that the person is really artistic. But nurture can change that because if art is never revealed to the person, they may as well not have that trait (since they are not doing anything with it).

I personally think that both nature and nurture effect a person. Although I do believe that nurture can over rule nature (or DNA). There are many things that can happen in a life time to a person that can alter who they are. For example, if a mother was an alcoholic and drank while pregnant it is possible that the child also becomes an alcoholic. But over time if the child keeps on drinking they possibly COULD learn not to do that and prevent themselves from a lot of trouble. They could have also learned from their mother's mistake to drink.

This connects to my book because there are two friends who have totally opposite personalities from each other. One, named Sophie, gets a credit card because apparently she is proven trust worthy and responsible. Her best friend, Kylie though is also trust worthy and responsible but because she is a "loud" person (unlike Sophie) doesn't get the credit card. Could that trait be nature or nurture? Definitely!

In conclusion, I think both nature and nurture have an effect on a person but nurture has more strength. People have the ability to change who they are therefore nature doesn't control everything. All in all, nurture happens more over time and there are more factors and more ways to change it.