Studies of identical twins tell us that at least 70 per cent of the human personality is inherited. It is just amazing how similar most of these children are, even when they have had very little contact with each other.
One set of twins that was raised in different countries from birth is now in their late 40s and they even share the same weird sense of humour. For example, both enjoy faking sneeze in elevators to see how strangers will react.
A person's genetic structrure is thought to even influence the stability of his or her marriage. If you have an identical twin who gets a divorce, your risk of getting a divorce is 45 per cent. But if your fraternal twin - who shares only half as many genes - gets divorced, your risk is ony 30 per cent.
What does all this mean ? Are we mere puppets on a string, playing out a pre-determined course without free will or personal choices ? Not at all.
Unlike birds ad mammals that act according to instinct, humans are capable of rational thought and independent action. We do not act on every sexual urge, for instance, despite its genetic underpinnings.
What I am saying is that even though heredity provides a nudge in a particular direction, that impulse can be brought under the control of our intellectual processes.
Dr James Dobson
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