The debate whether a person’s behavior is predetermined by genetics (nature) or by the environment in which they are brought up (nurture) has been going on forever. Nature removes all external influences and concludes that a person is pre-wired or pre-disposed by genetic and biological factors. Nurture considers that a person’s behaviors have been influenced by external factors.

John Locke, in 1690, introduced the “blank slate” philosophy in his published: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. He negated any internal predisposition by arguing that newborn children bring no ideas into the world and learn everything from exposure.

People tend to lean towards nurture, probably hoping that they can actually influence the outcome. It provides an illusion of control in this upside down world and existence.

While I have no doubt that the environment has an effect, I now possess unequivocal proof that some behaviors are pre-determined in utero no matter the person’s upbringing. Now, typically a scientific study requires a controlled environment, a hypothesis, and measurement based testing. I have none of that but I can describe at least this one instance where nature won — hands down.

I grew up in an era without cell phones. We used old school cameras — with film — which had to be purchased • used sparingly • dropped off • developed • paid for • and picked up with absolutely no guarantee that any of the pictures would even be any good. This made picture taking special and you damn well didn’t pull out that camera to take pictures of your food or anything ordinary. That is something for which I am forever grateful because there exists no photographic evidence of my headgear stage of life.

Back to Nature vs. Nurture…

As a teenager, whenever my awesome feathered 80s hair wasn’t blown dry and hair sprayed into coiffed perfection, my super straight bangs just flopped around my face. This was an annoyance I absolutely detested and refused to endure. My daughter recently walked out of her room and had no idea why I laughed myself stupid and immediately took a picture (with my cell phone, ha!). There is literally no way she could have known this but, at home in private, I would wear my hair exactly like this!

Suck it, John Locke!