Where do our traits come from? Some we are born with; some are built into a thing’s nature; some we pick up by habit or from the outside world. Scientists, historians and novelists all lean on these words when they ask whether something is nature or nurture.
Key idea
Born with it: innate, congenital, hereditary (passed down in the family), instinctive (done without learning). Part of a thing’s nature: inherent, intrinsic; its opposite is extrinsic (from outside). Knowing without reasoning: intuitive. Fixed by long habit: ingrained, inveterate.
Notice how many begin with in- meaning in (not not): in-nate (born in), in-herent (sticking in), in-grained (worked into the grain). And gen (birth) shows up in congenital, just as in genes and generation.
The ten words
Common mistake
inveterate (a long-held habit) is not invertebrate (an animal without a backbone). Intrinsic motivation comes from within; extrinsic motivation comes from rewards outside.
| word | where it comes from | example |
|---|---|---|
| innate, congenital | present from birth | an innate sense of rhythm |
| hereditary | passed down from parents | hereditary red hair |
| instinctive | built in, unlearned | a spider spinning its first web |
| inherent, intrinsic | part of the thing’s own nature | the sourness of a lemon |
| extrinsic | from outside | a prize for winning |
| ingrained, inveterate | fixed by long habit | waking at five every day |
Intrinsic motivation comes from within: you read because you love stories. Extrinsic motivation comes from outside rewards: you read to win a prize. And inveterate (a long-standing habit) is not invertebrate (an animal without a backbone).