My desire to take a closer look at our adoption-as-family was ignited as I listened to some one ‘enlighten’ me about issues surrounding adoption with, “I’ve always said it’s in the blood.” Offended by the smug tone, I set about looking into the matter myself as a kind of ‘sample of one’ personal study of nature and nurture.
Bent Twigs
There is much truth to the old adage that as the twig is bent, so the tree inclines. Things that happen early in life have long-lasting consequences. As we have seen, one mechanism behind this tendency is environmentally induced epigenetic change. But in my many walks in the forest, I have noticed that some trees start growing in one direction, then change direction quite dramatically, sometimes up to ninety degrees. This usually occurs when the tree begins life by growing sideways due to some environmental impediment, like a rock or other trees, then makes a turn toward the vertical and sunlight. There are numerous analogous cases in human psychological development. Many who get off to a bad start make midcourse corrections. Most victims of child abuse do not become child abusers. That cycle can be broken (73).
Taken from: Epigenetics: the ultimate mystery of inheritance by Richard C. Francis 2011