Nature versus Nurture Debate in Violence, Environment and Other Aspects

640 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Nature versus nurture

Scientists and biologist have argued the Nature versus Nurture debate for decades. This debate is about the degree to which our environment and heredity, affects our behavior and developmental stages. According to this debate, nature can be described as, the behavior of a person is occurring because of their genetic makeup. Since the behavior of a person is due to their genetic makeup, then, it (nature) should also influence a person’s growth and development for the duration of their life. However, the nurture side of the debate says, the cause for an individual’s behavior is because of environmental factors. This would mean that the influence from our family (immediate and extended), friends and other individuals would mold our behavior. Ultimately, no one knows if nature or nurture affects behavior more; or if it is a combination of both nature and nurture dictating an individual’s behavior; or if neither nature nor nurture affects a person’s behavior. This paper will examine the nature versus nurture debate through the topics of violence, intelligence and economics, and sports.
When looking at the issue of violence, violence is a natural abnormality that should be rehabilitated; violence can also be a learned behavior that children of all ages should be informed to avoid. Before I continue to make assumptions about violence, violence should be viewed through, genetic makeup causing an individual(s) to behavior a certain way, how the environment would affect the behavior of an individual(s), and how both genetics and environmental factors merge together to create violent behaviors. Before there is an understanding of how serotonin effects violent outburst, we must first understand and breakdown the science of serotonin. Serotoni...

... middle of paper ...

...rder. However, at the same time, there are individuals that question whether an individual(s) can corrupt an innocent child into becoming a cutthroat and slaughterous psychopath. For forensic psychologist, their job is to probe through the minds of serial killers; they do this to find out what causes them to commit such horrendous acts. Forensic psychologist ultimate goals is to learn how to prevent and catch serial killers before they decide to commit the crime.

Works Cited

Reif , A., Rosler, M., Freitage, C., Schneider, M., Eujen, A., Kissling, C., Wenzler, D., & Jacob, C. (2007). Nature and nurture predispose to violent behavior: Serotonergic genes and adverse childhood environment. Neuropsychopharmacology, 32(11), 2375-2838.

Bouchez, C. (2011, October 12). Serotonin: 9 questions and answers. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotonin

Show More
Related

  • Nature and Nurture, not Nature vs. Nurture

    1763 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...s may never agree on a conclusive degree to which both nature and nurture play roles in human development, but over the years, more improved studies have shown that both are crucial aspects. With all the knowledge we are gaining from these studies, it would be quite limiting to believe that a criminal and his actions are the sole result of heredity. Even in people who do not commit crimes, genes themselves are affected by the prenatal environment. Undoubtedly, the fetus experiences changes in environment, forcing possible changes in heredity and reactionary response. We are likely to never find the answer to how much or how little either, nature or nurture, impacts our lives, but at least we can agree that they both do, in fact, have major roles. Our development is not the culmination of heredity alone, but of a tangled web of experiences and genetics entwined.

    Read More

  • Can the Source of Aggression be Found in the Brain?

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, it is interesting how contradictory the finding is to several other claims. Studies have shown that serotonin, in normal levels, exerts a calming, inhibitory effect on neuronal firing (5) and that, in low levels of serotonin, aggressive and impulse behaviors increase (6).This contradicts the previous claim that a built-up, or high levels of serotonin caused by the MAOA mutation, causes violent behavior.

    Read More

  • Development Dynamics And Forensics By Lawrence Miller

    1712 Words  | 4 Pages

    Several hormones such as dopamine and norepinephrine enhance aggressive behavior. A high level of testosterone is also a determining factor of increased aggressive behavior, which is why victims report that their assailant was male in more than 80 percent of all violent personal crimes (Siegel & Worrall, 2013). Aggression is subdivided into two categories: affective and predatory aggression. Affective aggression usually involves high levels of physiological arousal within the individual and takes place when fighting for a mate or social status, such as when a gang uses violence to intimidate other rivals within their neighborhood. Predatory aggression involves low stimulation levels and is done in a methodical manner that involves stalking and meticulous planning. In a study conducted by Barratt, Stanford, Dowdy, Liebman, and Kent (1999), a group of 216 college students were asked to evaluate their own aggressive acts with a self-report survey. The resulting aggressive acts committed were divided into the two categories of impulsive and premeditated aggression. Impulsive aggression was frequently followed by feelings of remorse and confusion after that act was committed, unlike the latter which consisted of dominance and a purpose of social status gain (as cited in Miller, 2014). While some aggressive offenders may have a rational motive to commit a crime, Soutullo, McElroy, & Goldsmith (1998) argue that the act of serial killing consists of compulsions and irresistible impulses (as cited in Miller, 2014). That can be contributed to an impulse control disorder, which according to the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000) and the DSM-5 (APA, 2013),

    Read More

  • The Biological, Social, and Artistic Construction of a Serial Killer

    2451 Words  | 5 Pages

    14)) Prothow-Smith, D. and H. Spivak. "America's Tragedy." Psychiatric Times. Vol. XVI, Issue 6. June, 1999. , A survey of mounting teen violence, including a detailed discussion of several biological precursors to violent behavior patterns.

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nuture: Are People Born to Kill?

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Common psychological disturbances in the stages of making a serial killer are seen in childhood and are usually based upon mental and psychological abuse endured by a child.

    Read More

  • Ted Bundy: Who Are The Most Faceful Serial Killers?

    2397 Words  | 5 Pages

    A majority of these individuals are linked through commonalities of their childhood as well as their personality traits and behaviors. The serial murderer’s personality is an intricate recipe of biological, environmental and social circumstances. Though early abuse can cause feelings of aggression and delinquency, childhood experiences alone cannot be to blame. Many people are abused early on as children, and never become killers. Similarly, biological issues, such as brain abnormalities, as we as certain personality disorders would not individually create a murderer. Rather, a distinctive combination of psychological issues, impairments in the brain, and personality disorders help mold a brutal serial killer. Killers cannot be simply born into this world, but under the right circumstances, they will be created.

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nurture: Genetics vs Environment

    1611 Words  | 4 Pages

    The nature vs. nurture debate: the nature side, are those such as biologists, psychologists and others in the natural sciences, argue that behavioral traits can be explained by genetics. Those taking the nurture side are sociologists and others in the social sciences, they argue that human behavior is learned and shaped through social interaction. This argument should be dismissed because you don’t have to look far to see that both genetics and our environment, plays a role in who we are and our behaviors. (Glass). The point is there is a complex relationship between nature and nurture, either one alone is insufficient to explain what makes us human. (Colt). Our heredity gives us a basic potential,...

    Read More

  • Serial Killer Informative Speech

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Serial killers are defined to “be driven by instinct and desire to kill.” In a study done in 2000, Dr, Richard Davidson says, “people with a large amount of aggression – in particular people who have committed aggressive murders or have a social disorder – have almost no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex or the anterior cingulated cortex while activity in the amyglade continued perfectly. The orbital frontal cortex and the anterior congulated cortex control emotional impulses while the amyglade controls reactions to fear.” Davidson concludes his research claiming that although environment can and will affect a serial killer’s thoughts, it is a killer’s genetic makeup that inevitably creates murderous thoughts.

    Read More

  • essay 4

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antisocial personality disorder is a personality disorder marked by a general pattern of disregard for a violation of other people’s rights. Explanations of antisocial personality disorder come from the psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and biological models. As with many other personality disorders, psychodynamic theorists propose that this disorder starts with an absence of parental love during infancy leading to a lack of basic trust. In this view, the children that develop this disorder respond to early inadequacies by becoming emotionally distant, and they bond with others through use of power and destructiveness. Behavioral theorists have suggested that antisocial symptoms may be learned through modeling, or imitation. As evidence, they point to the higher rate of antisocial personality disorder found among the parents of people with this disorder. Other behaviorists suggest that some parent’s unintentionally teach antisocial behavior by regularly awarding a child’s aggressive behavior. The cognitive view says that people with this disorder hold attitudes that trivialize the importance of other people’s needs. Cognitive theorists also believe that these people have a genuine difficulty recognizing a point of view other than their own. Finally studies show that biological factors may play an important role in developing antisocial disorder. Researchers have found that antisocial people, particularly those with high impulse and aggression, display lower serotonin activity and has been linked this same activity with other studies as well.

    Read More

  • Preventing Mass School Shootings

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    Neihoff, D. (1999). The biology of violence: How understanding the brain, behavior and environment can break the vicious circle of aggression. New York: Free Press.

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nurture: Twin Studies and Adoption

    1969 Words  | 4 Pages

    “The term “nature versus nurture” is used to refer to a long-running scientific debate. The source of debate is the question of which has a greater influence on development: someone's innate characteristics provided by genetics, or someone's environment. In fact, the nature versus nurture debate has been largely termed obsolete by many researchers, because both innate characteristics and environment play a huge role in development, and they often intersect”. (Smith, 2010 p. 1)

    Read More

  • Nature vs. Nurture - We are Influenced by a Combination

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    and behavior of the child. In fact, the more we understand about development and behavior, the better. the more obvious it becomes that nature and nurture are similarly influences. rather than determinants, not only singly but also in combination. Here below, I will endeavour to expose the leading theories dealing with the question of nature.

    Read More

  • Serial Killers: A Different Brain

    1412 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is also crucial to consider the genetic makeup of these killers when trying to decipher their motives. New research shows a potential link between a strand of genes and aggression and violence (Bradley-Hagerty). The MAO-A gene or (monoamine oxidase A) has been researched extensively. The gene is often referred to as the “warrior gene” (Bradley-Hagerty). The function of this gene is to regulate serotonin in the brain. However, there are different variations of the gene, one of which is believed to prevent the brain from feeling the relaxing effects of the serotonin (Bradley- Hagerty). Without these calming effects, the person with this version of the gene is genetically predisposed to fits of rage; fits of rage that could potentially lead to murder over and over again.

    Read More

  • Nature Vs Nurture Criminology

    2020 Words  | 5 Pages

    Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain and body that help transmit electric signals from one neuron to other neurons in the body. These neurotransmitters are responsible for the activation of behavioral patterns and tendencies in specific areas of the brain. When a neuron releases the neurotransmitter chemicals, healthy synapse are needed to pass the electric message across the gaps correctly. All of this is important in an individual’s criminal behavior because the transportation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotine control a person’s emotions and therefore their behavior. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression.” (Jones, C. M.). An individual usually experiences high levels of dopamine before and after an altercation and it can cause an individual not to recognize the lasting angry expression they have on their face. Also, “Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is key in information processing and most consistently linked to criminal behavior in its deficiency; low levels are linked to depression and other mental illnesses” (Schram, P. J., & Tibbetts). People with low levels of serotonin have trouble communicating in everyday life and this has a strong connection with criminality because people that

    Read More

  • How Nurture is More Dominant than Nature

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Undoubtedly, humans are unique and intricate creatures and their development is a complex process. It is this process that leads people to question, is a child’s development influenced by genetics or their environment? This long debate has been at the forefront of psychology for countless decades now and is better known as “Nature versus Nurture”. The continuous controversy over whether or not children develop their psychological attributes based on genetics (nature) or the way in which they have been raised (nurture) has occupied the minds of psychologists for years. Through thorough reading of experiments, studies, and discussions however, it is easy to be convinced that nurture does play a far more important in the development of a human than nature.

    Read More

More about Nature versus Nurture Debate in Violence, Environment and Other Aspects

Open Document