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Discuss: Genetics vs environment.

Chipster27

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Or, nurture vs nature.

I'm reading a book and it had an interesting quote: "genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger"

It's an interesting debate because people react or behave differently and I've always believed it's a convergence of genetics and environment.

Psychologists will tell you there are probably 15+ personality types, and I think everyone will agree RDP has all of them, LOL. If you don't believe me, bounce over to the political forum :D.

So what do you think?
 

coolchange

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I have a friend, strong Irish family, lots of sons. All professional people or upper blue collar. All raised the same. One turned out to do some not very nice things, you all would know what it was if I said. Guess he was just wired different. So I guess I would have to say nurture up to a point, then you can't over rule nature. Dunno:smackhead
 

TrollerDave

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Raising kids is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. :smackhead:headscratch::):party::(:D:yikes

It takes a lot of work to do it right- the nurture part.
And even if you do it right, your not guaranteed the results you thought you'd get - the nature part.

But the "right" way to nurture, sometimes, depends on the "nature" of the kid. Some nurturing isn't the same across the board.

Do the best you can. And apologize later during the family counseling sessions. :D


But what I want to know is, who on RDP has all 15 personality types? :skull
 

rivermobster

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Raising kids is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. :smackhead:headscratch::):party::(:D:yikes

It takes a lot of work to do it right- the nurture part.
And even if you do it right, your not guaranteed the results you thought you'd get - the nature part.

But the "right" way to nurture, sometimes, depends on the "nature" of the kid. Some nurturing isn't the same across the board.

Do the best you can. And apologize later during the family counseling sessions. :D


But what I want to know is, who on RDP has all 15 personality types? :skull

Dave.
 

prosthogod

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I have 3 boys age 21,18,15. All are different personalities. They have all been nurtured the same. Some need more , some need less. Nature , is their personalities. I am a Dental Specialist, so the bar for them is set high , and the truth is none will likely go into the health professions. The oldest will hopefully be a marine pilot with an engineering degree. The middle wants to be in the fire department with a fire science degree, and the youngest says he will be rich by counting cards.
They all love boating, dirt biking, play baseball, football and lacrosse .
The oldest(engineer ), can wrench on the boat, trucks, dirt bikes, the other two have no interest, they would rather pay somebody. My wife believes in nurture, I believe in molding with a heavy hand. I grew up the son of an electrical contractor in So Cal. Not white collar.
 

Boozer

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Having two kids of my own I think about this a lot more these days. My kids couldn't be any more different and all signs point to my youngest being trouble.

As a kid/teen/young adult I was a complete fuck up. As a 30 something with two young kids who made some pretty good decisions over the past decade the bar is now set pretty high for my kids.

As a parent I figure it's my job to make sure they have a great support system and every resource available to them that they need to be successful in life.

Only time will tell if they utilize the resources they have to be successful or squander it all away.
 

C-2

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Or, nurture vs nature.

I'm reading a book and it had an interesting quote: "genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger"

It's an interesting debate because people react or behave differently and I've always believed it's a convergence of genetics and environment.

Psychologists will tell you there are probably 15+ personality types, and I think everyone will agree RDP has all of them, LOL. If you don't believe me, bounce over to the political forum :D.

So what do you think?

In all seriousness, are you reading a book about juvenile delinquency; I know that is one of the theories? I just read similar material in a juvenile justice system class.

Stupid is as stupid does, if your dad's name is Forest, you're fawked?
 

TrollerDave

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Having two kids of my own I think about this a lot more these days. My kids couldn't be any more different and all signs point to my youngest being trouble.

As a kid/teen/young adult I was a complete fuck up. As a 30 something with two young kids who made some pretty good decisions over the past decade the bar is now set pretty high for my kids.

As a parent I figure it's my job to make sure they have a great support system and every resource available to them that they need to be successful in life.

Only time will tell if they utilize the resources they have to be successful or squander it all away.

I wonder if there is a way to nurture them to not squander that opportunity?

I had that chance but not the drive to take it. My wife and I have this discussion on how to raise our kids to be more driven than we were.
 

rvrrun

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This is easy...

Nature, is the desire to exist, thrive and further oneself. Nurture, is teaching that others have those rights as well.
 

Racey

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I was smart enough to realize when i was a kid growing up "why the hell would anyone want kids" :D
 

530RL

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I was smart enough to realize when i was a kid growing up "why the hell would anyone want kids" :D

Me too. My gene pool is a superfund site. :D

With respect to the age old question, that was the point of the move "Trading Places".

[video=youtube;wjkdynBFHuQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjkdynBFHuQ[/video]
 

Chipster27

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In all seriousness, are you reading a book about juvenile delinquency; I know that is one of the theories? I just read similar material in a juvenile justice system class.

Actually I was watching the TV show "Charlie Rose" (http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60691402) and he was interviewing the author of a book on con men and the psychology behind them and their victims. The quote was in reference to human nature and how some are bred to deceive and are in an environment that propagates the behavior and others have the ability to deceive but temper their actions. For example Madoff vs the person that was late to work because they overslept but blame it on traffic.
 

AZMIDLYF

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Genes load the gun; the environment pulls the trigger.
 

pronstar

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"genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger"


This.
If it's purely genetics, then we have no free will and our lives are on autopilot with genetics dictating our actions.
(There are actually studies that show our subconscious makes decisions and our "free will" goes along with these pre-determined decisions, but that's another topic altogether).

But it can't be purely environment, because we all know people who are a few chromosomes short, and nothing in the environment is gonna change that :p

It's the old "nature versus nurture" debate.
 

Ziggy

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Environment has a huge influence on our kids....HUGE.
.
Would little Johnnie be into crystal meth had he not met little fuck up Harry whose parents are addicts?
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Would RD be into boats if his parents hadn't taken him to river so much?(river addicts;))
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.
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We can nurture them all we want but peer pressure and who they hang out with will define their futures.
 

ChevelleSB406

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I have my degree in psychology and worked in the field after college. I tend to agree with the quote about loading the gun and pulling the trigger, although it is quite a bit of a generalization. I think, depending on the aspect, they blend differently. I think the quote best applies for when shit goes sideways, environment can be what pushes you over the edge, and nurture can be what pulls you back from it, there are some that are just bad eggs as a whole. Aspects of personality in the normal 99%, can definitely be a blend. My brother hates anything mechanical, cars, boats, speed, anything like that, but loves all sports, and if you look at the video games we got on commodore 64 as kids, I bought racing games at 5 years old, and him at 7 bought sports. Same genetics, same parents, very different personalities. That all happened before I hung out with the muscle car crowd in high school, but that was where I was already drawn to obviously. And in conclusion, just to piss off the group, I believe the gun quote describes my personal stance on the homosexuality genetic/environment debate. :D
 

jones performance

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interesting topic..

i feel they both play a role, but environment can play a bigger impact. take genetics outa the equation and the movie ref above trading places is a perfect example of how different environments can effect people.
 

Rajobigguy

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I only have one daughter but I hit the lottery with that one. While I would love to take credit for everything she is I know that my part is only half the equation. If she didn't have it in her to begin with no amount of nurturing would bring it out.
 

C-2

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If we have individuals with god-given talents like musicians, athletes, mathematicians...then why wouldn't we have god-deprived hinderances?

We all know that you can learn certain things, but some talents you are born with, and are not influenced by environment no matter how hard you try (to learn).
 

RCDave

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Does this apply to the south were the gene pool is virtually identical? :D:D:D
 

pronstar

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If we have individuals with god-given talents like musicians, athletes, mathematicians...then why wouldn't we have god-deprived hinderances?

:thumbsup

Whenever I hear pro athletes thank god for handing them a victory, I think to myself "god must really hate the other team"
 
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