People may get their blue, hazel or brown eyes from one parent, and their freckles from the other. But where does their talent for singing or their talent for crafts come from? In other words, what makes individuals who they are? Is it predetermined in their genes or was it taught to them by family or friends? My general psychology instructor recently explained that this contest between nature and nurture is not won by either side. “The debate between nature and nurture is one of the oldest questions in psychology. The debate focuses on the relative contributions of genetic makeup and environmental factors to human development. - (Kendra Cherry). So far, evidence gathered through years of research and data suggests a resolution of equal importance between the two factors as fifty/fifty. In the nature versus nurture debate, some people believe that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of inheritance; they are known as nativists. The philosophers Plato and Descartes, for example, suggested that certain human behaviors and characteristics occurred naturally, without regard to environmental influences. An example of nativist theory in psychology is Chomsky's concept of the "language acquisition device", or LAD. According to this theory, “…all children are born with an instinctive mental capacity that allows them to both learn and produce language. » ~ Chomsky On the other side of the table, there are people who believe that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of learning; they are known as empiricists. “Racism is not born, friends. It's taught. I have a 2 year old son. Do you know what he hates? Naps. End of list » ~ Denis Leary. In addition to comedian/actor Denis Leary, the famous ...... middle of the newspaper ...... posed the problem. Behind his right temple was a brain tumor the size of an egg. After surgeons removed the tumor, his cravings faded and he returned home to his family. Then, a year later, the tumor partially grew back, and with it the sexual urges. A second tumor removal further attenuated the impulses. (p35, David G. Myers) This case only proves, however, that human behaviors originate in the brain. The question of how they achieve this still remains controversial. Overall, the majority of experts today believe that human behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture. However, the question is still debated in many areas, such as the origins of homosexuality and the influences on intelligence. Although few people take an extreme nativist or empiricist approach, researchers and experts still debate the extent to which biology and the environment influence human behavior..