Nature vs Nurture: Twin studies & Adoption

Nature vs Nurture: Twin studies & Adoption

Has the Nature vs Nurture debate been answered for good? Twin and adoption studies have allowed us to disentangle the forces of nature and nurture.

By separating nature and nurture, we can isolate the effect of the genes and the environment. This is important, because in the case of twin studies we have a control subject. Their genes are identical - but becuase they are raised separately we can isolate the effect of their environment. Twin studies are limited by the number of subjects available. It's not common that twins are born and adopted into separate households. This is where adoption studies are interesting, we can look at adopted children, and children brought up by their parents (sometimes even a sibling of the adopted child) and compare them, are the adopted children less similar to their parents than the children brought up by them?

These studies were pioneered by Thomas Bouchard, and more recently by Robert Plomin. They have been revolutionary in both the fields of psychology and behavioural genetics.

We also explain the genetics of intelligence and the correlation of IQ (or more accurately; G-factor) and environment between adopted children and non adopted children. The results were astounding showing that although nurture and environment matter, they are largely shaped andd moulded by the individual's genetic predispositions.

Please tell us what you think; has the nature vs nurture debate been solved? Does parenting matter? Can the effect of the environment really be so small?

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Sources
aggbloom, Steven J.; Warnick, Renee; Warnick, Jason E.; Jones, Vinessa K.; Yarbrough, Gary L.; Russell, Tenea M.; Borecky, Chris M.; McGahhey, Reagan; Powell, John L., III; Beavers, Jamie; Monte, Emmanuelle (2002). "The 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century". Review of General Psychology. 6 (2): 139–152.
[6] G as a predictor of success
[7] Shared/non shared environment, correlations between twins/adoptees/families
[8] Similarity in personality reared apart and together
[9] CAP findings
[10] CAP methods and findings at age 16
[11] Interaction of personality & academic success
[12]Top replicated findings from behavioural genetics - used as a reference for a number of the claims made in this essay
[13] Genetics and divorce
[14] History of twin and adoption studies