It has been long discovered that genes influence human behavior and health. However, it is also known that people’s environmental surroundings shape their development and health conditions. The extend of the influence of these two factors has been a perennial subject of debate for medical scholars and philosophers alike. I do not adhere to either hereditary position or environmental position in this argument because it seems to me that the health characteristics of a human being are the products of their genetic make-up and maturation. For example, genetically related individuals are characterized by similar vulnerability to certain illnesses, which suggests that genetic factors affect physical development.
When it comes to environmental influences, an individual’s intellectual ability and behavior are affected by their social surroundings. It follows that by changing one’s environmental characteristics, it is possible to alter one developmental trajectory. An example of a social impact on behavioral characteristics is behavior-shaping techniques effectively used by mental health professionals to help their clients.
Instead of trying to determine whether nature or nurture contributes more to the development of an individual, it is necessary to investigate the interplay of these two factors. The findings of a study conducted by Kandler suggest that genetic and environmental influences “interact in complex ways.” Therefore, I think that it is impossible to separate one’s genetic constitution from one environment when investigating one developmental trajectory. It means that an amalgamation of genetics, psychology, and sociology should be used for exploring causal pathways leading to illnesses and behavior disorders. By taking such a holistic approach, it is possible to maintain an unbiased position, which is essential for scientific inquiry.