Nature Vs. Nurture/Are We Really Born That Way

Some people are more successful than others because of their upbringing. Nature theory proponents argue that innate ability is the key to success. On the other hand, nurture theory proponents argue that one’s environmental circumstances lead to success. What most likely controls one’s destiny is their decisions; although genetics do limit some of their control. Individuals control their own destinies to a partial extent because they have the ability to make decisions that will impact their future but can not control everything. An individual’s destiny is influenced by a combination of factors but mostly by their surrounding. For example, in Kimberly Powell’s article “Nature vs Nurture / Are We Really Born That Way?” it states that “Nature endows us with inborn abilities and traits; nurture takes these genetic tendencies and molds them as we learn and mature” (Powell). This suggests that although people are born with natural abilities, their environment ultimately shapes them. If an individual is predisposed to a certain behavior or ability, but their environment lacks support then the behavior or ability will not manifest. Clearly one’s environment has a great influence over their behavior which affect their decisions and overall destiny.

For instance, in an excerpt from Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: The Story of Success, it informs the audience that “the people at the very top don’t work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder” (Gladwell). This signifies that practice plays a major factor in a person’s destiny. If a person has a natural talent but does not practice, they will not improve therefore affecting their future. Without a doubt people do have some control over their destinies because they can make decisions over whether they want to improve or