People can get blue, hazel, or brown eyes from one parent and freckles from the other. But where does their talent for singing or their skill in craftsmanship 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 competition between nature and nurture has been won by neither side. “The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. The debate focuses on the relative contributions of genetic heritage and environmental factors to human development." - (Kendra Cherry). So far, the evidence gathered from years of research and data suggests a resolution of equal importance between the two fifty/fifty factors. In the nature versus nurture debate, there are people who believe that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of heredity; they are known as nativists. The philosophers Plato and Descartes, for example, suggested that some 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, people. It is taught. I have a 2 year old son. You know what he hates? Naps. End of list” ~ Denis Leary. In addition to the comedian/actor Denis Leary, the well-known......half a newspaper......solved the problem. Behind his right temple was a brain tumor the size of an egg. After surgeons removed the tumor, his urges 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 removal of the tumor attenuated the impulses again. (p35, David G. Myers) This case, however, only demonstrates that human behaviors come from inside the brain. How they get there is still up for debate. All in all, most experts today believe that human behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture. However, the issue is still debated in many areas, such as the origins of homosexuality and its effects on intelligence. While few people take the extreme nativist or extreme empiricist approach, researchers and experts still debate the degree to which biology and the environment influence human behavior.