Реферат: Nature Nurture Or Both Essay

p. 575.) These genes not only affect our outlook, but also play a significant

role in determining our behavior and our well-being. ?Through new genetic

studies, clinical observation, and research on identical twins and adopted

children, we are becoming increasingly aware that many of the human

characteristics previously taken for granted as products of childhood rearing

and environment are rooted in the genetic matrix.?, (Neubrauer, Peter. p 38)

Studies of identical twins reared apart have provided researchers with a lot of

clues about the role of heredity in every day life behavior. Twins (monozygotes)

are of extraordinary importance when studying heredity because they share

identical copies of genes. An interesting study on twin brothers who were

separated at birth and raised in different countries by respective adoptive

parents showed that they both kept their lives neat, ‘neat to the point of

pathology.’ Their clothes were preened, appointments met precisely on time.

When asked about the reason they felt to be so clean, the first one replied

? My mother. When I was growing up she always kept the house perfectly

ordered. She insisted on every little thing returned to its proper place,… I

learned from her. What else could I do?? When his twin brother was asked the

same question he answered ?The reason is quite simple. I’m reacting to my mother,

who was an absolute slob.?, (Neubrauer, Peter P 21) In this example, we see a

natural preference based on heredity. Both twins blamed their mothers for their

behaviors, while none of the mothers required such neatness. Another study on

heredity and alcoholism conducted by Goodwin et al (1973) indicated that

adoptees with alcoholic parents were four times more likely to become alcoholics

than those without, although there was no such relationship with alcohol misuse

in adoptive parents, ( Pelle, Stanton. p 2). Even though scientists have only

identified 16,000 out of the total 100,000 genes, many psychological diseases

are on the verge of being unraveled. Take for instance schizophrenia, a diseas e

characterized by (hallucinations, delusions, flat or inappropriate emotional

expression, paranoia and suspiciousness). New findings point out to its