[quote]This is the classic constructivism vs. behaviorism debate. Nature vs. Nurture. I want you to consider yourself from a 3rd person perspective. Be as critical and pragmatic as possible. All of your ideologies, your stances on controversial topics, your faith/non-faith in a deity, the clothes you wear, the music you like, how you react to certain situations, being introverted/extraverted, your sexuality, how you wear your hair, your interpersonal relationships, your strengths, your weaknesses, your personal opinion of yourself, how these things effect your life, etcetera. Everything that makes you, you, is a quality to be considered in answering this question. [b]Do the qualities of yourself, that make you a specific, unique individual in this world, come from yourself, or your environment? [/b] To explain what I mean, by "yourself," I mean, is your conscious thought and personality dependent on the hereditary traits of your brain? Has your mind built itself through interpretation, interpretation which has been perceived through hereditary "lenses?" [i]Short example: A child born with a choleric temperament grows up to be a bully due to their natural want to be better and more dominating than others. [/i] To explain what I mean by "your environment," I mean, is your conscious thought and personality dependent on everything you have ever experienced in your life? Has your perception built your mind, and your interpretations are contoured to how your mind has been built? [i]Short example: A child with two older brothers that would bully him when he was younger grows up to be a bully due to his older siblings being idol figures, reinforcing that superiority through aggression is something to be sought after. [/i] If there's any confusion, electing for "yourself," is choosing "Nature" and "your environment" is choosing "Nurture." Please explain your position in the comments. Edit: typo in the poll, "Nuture" is suppose to be "Nurture."[/quote]