Nature vs. Nurture and the Developing Theory of Nature via Nurture

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Recommended: The effect genetics and environmental influence have on intelligence

Outline

Thesis: At the moment, there is no definitive answer to the question of nature vs. nurture, there is, however, compelling evidence that the theory of Nature via. Nurture could be the solution.

I. Introduction

A. Nature versus Nurture

II. Nature vs. Nurture

A. Nature: Genetic Factors

1. Nature Defined

2. Genes Defined

3. Human Genome Project

B. Nurture: Environmental Factors

1. Nurture Defined

2. Biological and Social Environment

C. Behavioral Genetics

III. Twins

A. Twins Defined

B. Types of Twins

1. Identical Twins

2. Fraternal Twins

C. Twin Studies

1. Definition and Validity

2. The Skeptics of Twin Studies and Their Concerns

3. Minnesota Twin Study of Twins Reared Apart

4. Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA)

5. Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD)

D. Twin Stories

1. Jim Twins

2. Beth and Amy

3. Harold and Bernard Shapiro

4. Judith and Julie Swain

5. Charlie and Bill Duke

IV. Nature via Nurture

V. Heritability

A. Definition

B. Personality

C. Intelligence

D. Toxic Environment

E. Disease and Mental Illness

VI. Political and Social Ramifications

A. Biological Determinism

VII. Conclusion

An Introduction to Nature vs. Nurture and the Developing Theory of Nature via Nurture

Are we exclusively the creation of nature or the reflection of nurture? The first attempt to study nature and nurture was published by Sir Francis Galton in 1865. (Plomin, 2004) Galton wanted to know how to measure intelligence, what the components were and the degree to which it was inherited. (Santrock, 2004) He would be the first of many researchers to question the role of heredity. The first twin and adoption studies were published in 1924 by Sophie Van Senden Theis. (Plomin, ...

... middle of paper ...

...nce on life events during the last half of the life span. Psychology and Aging. 5(1), 25-30.

Plomin, R., Reiss, D.R., Hetherington, E.M., Howe, G.W. (1994) Nature and nurture: genetic contributions to measures of the family environment. Developmental Psychology. 30(1), 32-43.

Ridley, M. (2003). What makes you who you are. Time. 161(22), 54-60.

Santrock, J.W. (2004). Child development. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.

Segal, N. L. (1999). Entwined lives: Twins and what they tell us about human behavior. New York: Dutton

Segal, N. L. (1999). New twin studies show: The career of your dreams may be the career of your genes. Psychology Today, 32(5), 54-8.

Wright, L. (1997). Twins and what they tell us about who we are. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Wyatt, J. W. (1993). Identical Twins, Emergenesis, and Environments. American Psychologist. 1294-1295.

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