I love the nature/nurture debate. I come down more on nature, and I’d scrub Steven Pinker’s floor if he asked me to. William Saletan has an informative review of Judith Miller’s new book No Two Alike. Don’t read this review — or Pinker — if you are a parent and like to think you have tons of influence over how your kids are.
Saletan examines Miller’s provocative thesis that our socialization fuels different personalities that we employ based on the situation we find ourselves in. Personality that’s the same most of the time will fade away.
Although I’ve only been a parent for just over 2 years, there’s no question I fall on the side of nature. None whatsoever. Nuture is what you do around the edges – nature is what makes up the core.