Final answer:
Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate does not provide a specific percentage of genes influenced by the environment; instead, it focuses on the complexity and bidirectional influences of gene-environment interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The book The Blank Slate by Steven Pinker discusses the ongoing debate about the relative influence of genetics versus the environment on human behavior and traits. Pinker highlights the complex nature of the gene-environment interactions. The percentage of genes influenced by shared or unshared environments is not explicitly provided by Pinker; instead, he emphasizes that both components play a crucial role in shaping who we become. The range of reaction theory posits that while our genetic potential has a fixed limit, the actual achievement of that potential is heavily dependent on the environmental stimulation we experience. Furthermore, factors like genetic environmental correlation illustrate the bidirectional influence between our genes and our environment, which complicates the ability to attribute specific percentages to each factor.
Epigenetics further complicates the nature versus nurture debate by showing that environmental influences can affect how genes are expressed, even in individuals with the same genetic makeup. Approaches to understanding traits such as intelligence, personality, and psychological behaviors require considering the intricate interplay between our innate biology and the experiences and cultures we are immersed in throughout our lives.