Argumentative Essay On Nature Vs Nurture

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To what degree are our behaviors inherited or acquired? This is a constant debate within psychology. Our thoughts, emotions and behaviors that result from nature are those that we are genetically predisposed to. The nurture aspect of the debate consists of the behaviors that are based on the environment, experience, and our upbringing. Our family and culture play a large role in nurturing. Researchers study the nature versus nurture phenomenon through fraternal and identical twins. Fraternal twins share the same environment, but vary in their degree of genetic relatedness. Identical twins that are reared apart share genes in varying degrees but experience different environments. These studies help us to understand the extent to which our genes or our environment can better predict our behaviors. Shared environments have been found to influence children, especially in regard …show more content…

Low norepinephrine and serotonin activity can lead to depression. But what if a person found an environment that was constantly stimulating and arousing for them or engaged in daily exercise which has been found to elevate these neurotransmitter levels? On the other hand, behaviorists believe that depression occurs when positive aspects of life decrease for a person. Depressed people tend to report less positive rewards and show less positive behaviors than a nondepressed person (Comer, 229). I do not think genes have a greater influence on depression than the environment does. I think that an engaging environment can make people happier. Depression can occur after a tragic life event or can even develop from parenting styles such as physical punishment. It is important for parents to reassure their children and to help their children develop personal control over their lives. Positive thinking and an emphasis on self worth needs to be stressed early in life in order to increase happiness later in

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