Question: To what extent to are we a product of our surroundings, or are we driven by genetic factors?

Rose Turner answered on 14 Jun 2017:

Great question. The answer differs depending on the particular topic we are talking about. Some things have clear biological underpins, whereas others seem to be more about experiences. Talents are a useful thing to think about when answering this question. To be fantastic at tennis, you would need to have some key physical attributes, such as the ability to develop muscles, good coordination and general fitness. While these can be developed with practice (with the help of a good teacher), they will also be influenced by genetics. Your motivation to become the best tennis player in the world, will likely be affected by your experiences (e.g. someone telling you ‘you will never be a good tennis player’ and wanting to prove them wrong!) and personality traits, which are influenced both by social experiences and by genetics. It seems as though most psychological phenomena involves the interaction of both genetic and environmental factors (though psychologists differ in how much importance they would place on each) 🙂