Human Aggression Genetically inherited or environmentally learned? The question has been asked for years. Is human aggression genetically linked or is it the environment that determines our aggressive nature? Over the years there have been many theories proposed supporting the idea that aggression has a genetic link in humans. "A century ago, Italian physician Cesare Lombroso claimed that sloping foreheads, jutting chins and long arms were signs of born criminals" (Toufexis
             52). More recently, claims have been made that "Man is a predator whose natural instinct is to kill with a weapon"(Leakey 23). Again, there have been quit a few ideas presented proclaiming mans' genetic link to aggression.
             Some, looking in hindsight, have been ridiculous while others have been more thought provoking but all have lacked sufficient proof. Likewise, there have been several theories suggesting that the environment is what determines our aggressive nature. One psychologist expressed that behavior is changed by learning. It is not genetic in humans to be aggressive (Montagu 183). Many studies have shown this to be true. When humans are subjected to aggressive environments they are significantly more likely to be aggressive themselves. In addition, when these studies were put under scrutiny they were verified. In light of this only one obvious conclusion remains. Human aggression is a learned trait resulting from the environment. It is not an embedded characteristic lurking deep within the genetic make-up of all humans. A large portion of the science and psychological community would like us to believe that humans are inescapably aggressive. Psychologist Sigmund Freud expressed that humans are not loving creatures rather they are creatures who wish to engage in aggression (Donahue). This statement refers to underlying instinctive urges that he believed motivated aggressive behavior. That has yet to be proven. Some other scientist have looked to the p...