Nature vs. Nurture debate?

The "Nature vs. Nurture" debate often relates to the extent to which genetics (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) shape human characteristics and behaviors. Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses this complex interplay, emphasizing that the binary separation of nature and nurture into opposing forces is outdated. Instead, he highlights that our genetics set certain predispositions, but our environments significantly influence how these genetic traits are expressed—conceptually described as epigenetics 1.

Furthermore, Dr. Huberman argues that traits are influenced by both genetics and experiences, which often interact in complex ways. For instance, certain traits might be highly inheritable, like certain physical characteristics, while others, such as speech accents, are entirely shaped by environmental factors. He also notes that it is challenging to strictly divide nature and nurture, as they continuously influence and configure each other 2 3.

This ongoing interaction means it can't be clearly stated whether a trait is entirely due to nature or nurture, making the term "versus" somewhat misleading in this context 3.