Sure, there’s scientific curiosity behind humanity’s fixation on nature vs. nurture, but that may not be the only reason. From a non-academic perspective, nature vs. nurture is essentially humanity’s way of asking “Who’s to blame for how these damn kids turn out?” We as a species-Americans, in particular-revel in an unearned sense of superiority, so the parents of a world-class athlete have bragging rights over the parents of a cold-blooded killer. (Unless the kid is OJ Simpson, who was both.)