Final answer:
Our behavior is influenced by genetics, environment, free will, and random chance, though the nature vs. nurture debate acknowledges the complex interplay between our inherited traits and our experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Popular recent research suggests that our behavior is influenced by multiple factors, including our genetics, environment, free will, and to some extent, random chance. Determinists believe that all human actions are caused by prior factors and that with greater knowledge, these can be predicted. The field of sociobiology especially has implications for this belief, as it examines the link between genes and behaviors. However, most experts now recognize that our behaviors are usually the result of an interplay between both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment). This interplay is referred to as the nature versus nurture debate, reflecting the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between our inherited genetic traits and our life experiences. The complexity of human behavior means that simple determinism is challenged by evidence of the multifaceted origins of our actions.