Alright, I had this discussion with someone a while back about homosexuality, and people in general. She supposes that humans have yet to find a gay gene' because such a gene does not exist. Therefore, things that a person is exposed to plays a part in how that person matures sexually. Our conversation did not end with sexuality though. We came to an agreement that (our parents in particular) play a very large role in what we adapt to, and see as 'normal', how we see violence for example. So, in a way, it's our 'society', 'parents' and 'environment' that dictates how we 'evolve' in a way, to be who we are today. However, we are simply animals, right? animals always act on instinct. What their 'genetics' tell them to do, right? so how can this be? Edited to fix formatting
There have been countless debates and studies on the subject, I believe one of the latest studies mentioned in my psychology book said it was 60/40 in favor of genetics, but obviously the environment still plays a large roll.
There have been countless debates and studies on the subject, I believe one of the latest studies mentioned in my psychology book said it was 60/40 in favor of genetics, but obviously the environment still plays a large roll.General_X
Well, the latest poll shows 67 percent in favor of environment, and 33 percent just beiber. o.o what is your own opinion?
I'd say genetics by a slim amount. You'd be surprised how much of your mindset and psyche is derived from genes.
You don't think that evolution (in general) is caused by the environment? Well, truth be told, evolution is caused by environmental factors selecting the most favorable genes. So it's kind of both. If it was purely environment, then our genes would not change.
I think the environment does, I was thinking how if someone was exactly the same, but born to a different family, a very rich or poor family, a different country, a family of a different religion, or a different time period would change the person dramatacly, or so I think.
I'd say genetics by a slim amount. You'd be surprised how much of your mindset and psyche is derived from genes.
You don't think that evolution (in general) is caused by the environment? Well, truth be told, evolution is caused by environmental factors selecting the most favorable genes. So it's kind of both. If it was purely environment, then our genes would not change. But the theory of evolution is that it takes many generations before the genes change in a meaningful way, right? we've seen signficant changes over 'single' generations in human history. Even just looking at the past 3 decades you can see a generally different view on how the people behaved, and how society has changed since then.
I think the environment does, I was thinking how if someone was exactly the same, but born to a different family, a very rich or poor family, a different country, a family of a different religion, or a different time period would change the person dramatacly, or so I think.
disharmonized
Those types of studies are done on identical twins that get adopted to different families. Its still amazing how similar the twins temperaments, tastes, and personalities are despite the sometimes dramatic difference between their environments.
It's likely a complex combination of both, that noone fully understands yet. There are clearly genetic traits, but how much that influences an individual is still an open question.
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
Is the person him/herself part of the environment?
Baconbits2004
Aren't we all? >_> I mean, to the genes. Genes are part of the environment to, in a way. Don't think too much, or you'll get confuzzled. "Sometimes you are thinking for hours and achieve nothing, and sometime you achieve the same thing in 5 minutes." H.F.
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
Steameffekt
Considering that "nature" isn't a sentient force, I highly doubt it.
Is the person him/herself part of the environment?
KungfuKitten
Aren't we all? >_> I mean, to the genes. Genes are part of the environment to, in a way. Don't think too much, or you'll get confuzzled. "Sometimes you are thinking for hours and achieve nothing, and sometime you achieve the same thing in 5 minutes." H.F. I suppose so. The two are constantly intermingling with each other, but still individuals.... kinda like a how friends share and learn from each other. o.o
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
Steameffekt
Hmmm popularity and amount of homosexuals are two different things.
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
KungfuKitten
Hmmm popularity and amount of homosexuals are two different things. Hmm.... Let me rephrase it. Could the rise in numbers of Homosexuals be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
Steameffekt
Hmmm popularity and amount of homosexuals are two different things. Hmm.... Let me rephrase it. Could the rise in numbers of Homosexuals be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation? I would think it's more of combination of things. like acceptance. More people might feel at ease being a homosexual than they were years ago..
I saw this in a thread about Evolution but I'll post it here. Could the rise in popularity of Homosexuality be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation?
Steameffekt
Hmmm popularity and amount of homosexuals are two different things. Hmm.... Let me rephrase it. Could the rise in numbers of Homosexuals be a way of Mother Nature fighting overpopulation? -_-;;;;;;;;; grrrr Why do you think the number of homosexuals has risen? Is it a hunch? People are becoming less fertile. I think that's the way She deals with it.
Wow, it's been a while since someone was brave enough to begin a Nature VS Nurture debate. But like in any such conversation the numbers speak for itself. A person is about 20% Nature (genetics) and 80 percent Nurture (environment). Except for the knacks for certain features you posses, all the rest is dependable on your environment where you learn and emulate different types of behaviours, beliefs, morals, etc.
Neuroscience researcher here. It really depends on which behavior you're talking about, but in general the two come out about even in influence. Genetics prime a person to exhibit a given behavior (ie they don't necessarily mean that you'll act in a certain way, but they do enable the ability and/or increase the likelihood that you will) but it often takes some sort of environmental cue (which could be anything from the hormone levels of the mother during the fetal period to socialization) to elicit that behavior. Schizophrenia is a perfect example. It's the mental disorder most strongly linked to genetics. We KNOW it has a genetic component and we know what at least some of those genes are. However, just because you have the genes for schizophrenia doesn't mean you'll actually ever develop the disorder. In fact, if your identical twin has schizophrenia there's only a 50% chance that you'll have schizophrenia too, which means it's pretty much a cointoss as to whether or not you'll get the disorder if you have the correct genetics for it (although note that you must have the genes in the first place to even have the possibility of developing schizophrenia). As for homosexuality, there's really no debate in neuroscience and psychology right now that it has a biological cause. The only debate is about what exactly that cause is.
not to sound mean, but when it comes to sexuality, homosexuality is sort of a defect in the brain. I don't think it's wrong to be homosexual, but it is NOT normal.
I absolutely cant stand when people try to say homosexuality is caused by environmental factors or they choose to be that way. I see it as somewhere during development a fetus is determined to be normal (hetero) or abnormal (homosexual). Then they are born that way. People do not choose sexuality or the genes they are born with. You cant say if a Homosexual person has a kid they will be homosexual also. BUT, if two really big fat people have kids, the kids will probably inherit the GENES that will make it easy for them to be obese also. But the environment really affects how you act. If those kids live in a positive environment where they eat better than their parents, and exercise plenty, they probably wont be obese. but you can't expect scientists to find a gay gene." Because it's not a gene that causes homosexuality. The world is just full of bigots. Some hide behind religious beliefs, but its just a big joke if you ask me.
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