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Theorists arguments on both sides of nature and nurture
Nature versus nurture theorists
Human behavior influenced by environment
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The nature vs. nurture controversy has been one of the oldest and most incessant debates throughout history. The disputation of this debate has generated numerous hypotheses, and explorations by various researchers, however, it has not been clearly determined as to whether a person is biologically determined or whether they are shaped by the environment. Nature’s theory holds that a person’s mental ability is sustained by what he or she is born with genetically. Conversely, the argument that a person’s environment plays a large role in his or her mental aptitude is nurture. Despite the numerous and overwhelming experiments that have been fulfilled by theorists who support the nature theory, I strongly believe that the environment around a person, on the other hand, is ever-changing and offers more opportunities for growth and variation. Many scientists have accepted that people’s genetic makeup shape both their physical and mental capabilities. Thus, their characteristics such as eye color and hair color are mainly determined by specific genes which are nested in each human cell. Moreover, the nature theory conceptualizes on traits such as intelligence, aggression; personality and sexual orientation are also embedded in a person’s DNA. A continuous debate arises confirming that the genetic makeup of individuals may be linked to criminal acts. For example, with regards to Nature being a cause of Juvenile Delinquency, this suggests that the juvenile was born with the trait, and they are innate. "In Iowa, the first adoption study was conducted that looked at the genetics of criminal behavior. The researchers found that as compared to the control group, the adopted individuals, which were born to incarcerated female offenders, had a ... ... middle of paper ... ...vironment but are not genetically identical, they help us to see the influence of environmental factors (Segal, 69). These factors are all valuable to the environmentalist argument. In addition, if environment didn't play a part in determining an individual's traits and behaviors, then identical twins should, theoretically, be exactly the same in all respects, even if reared apart. Nevertheless, a number of studies show that they are never exactly alike, even though they are remarkably similar in most respects. Nevertheless, both heredity and environmental factors are important in constructing human behavior; however, I believe that the most prevalent one responsible for shaping our mental abilities and behaviors is the environment. To an extent, heredity serves its purpose; but further growth and development is established by the environment's influence on persons.
Psychology has long argued the effect of nature, or innate features and genes, and nurture, or environment and upbringing, on life outcomes. Modern academics agree that the two are interrelated (Shonkoff).
While social research has been steady and ongoing, our biological knowledge has advanced disproportionately in recent times. As we discover more about the role of genes in pre-determining who we are, the nature versus nurture debate seems headed for a tilt of the biological over the environmental.
When discussing human characteristics many statements are made regarding whether or not an individual was born with certain traits, or if they were raised in an environment that instilled the traits in them. This conflict is what is known as the nature and nurture argument, and in the study of behavior this argument is difficult to avoid. However the general consensus is that there is interplay between nature and nurture, that the characteristics and mannerisms that make up an individual are not dependent on one or the other. Generally there are two conclusions are made by research that is done concerning this argument; research that concludes that there is interplay and research
A debate between psychologist, scientists and philosopher thinkers on the spectrum of ‘nature vs. nurture’ arose concerning human development. In the nature versus nurture debate, the term "nature" refers to the genes we inherit while the term "nurture" refers to our outside environment (Nature vs. Nurture: Twin and Adoption Studies). This debate of ‘nature vs. nurture’ has existed for centuries and up to now it is still a topic of major discussion although at present time. Human development is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior, thinking, emotions and personality (Boyd & Bee, 2005). In order to understand cognitive, emotional, physical, social and educational growth that everyone experiences from childhood until adulthood, we must first understand the influence and importance of child development. Different psychologists have different theories and concepts of child development. Grand theories often use a stage-by-stage approach while attempting to describe the areas of development. Mini-theories focus only on a fairly limited aspect of development, such as cognitive or social growth. (Cherry, Child Development Theories, 2011)
There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in each individual’s heredity. Of these 23 pairs, 22 are similar in males and females. The 23rd pair determinates the sex of an individual. As it is seen in this case, the genes are the sole determiner of the sex of an individual (Sigelman & Rider, 2009). Even though some human body traits are only determined by genes, it is not that black and white in many cases. For example, in a study by Bouchard and McGue (1981), the intellectual abilities of some family members are compared to reveal the degree of interaction between genes and environment. According to this study, the average correlation between identical twins is 0.86 if they are raised together and 0.72 if they are raised apart. The average correlation for fraternal twins who are raised together is 0.60 and those fraternal twins who are raised apart is 0.52. M...
Nature versus nurture is one of the oldest and most studied debates in the history of psychology. This debate is about an individual’s genetic influences as opposed to the environmental influences on physical characteristics and intelligence (Rathus 197). Some think that genes determine an individual’s development and others think that it comes from how one was raised. My development was influenced by nature and nurture equally because I would not be myself if I did not get my ambition from my mother and my manners from my upbringing.
The argument of nature vs. nurture is a long-standing one in the psychological and social worlds. It is the argument about whether we are ruled by our genes or our upbringing. It is my thought that neither is true. It is nature working with nurture which determines our personality and our lifestyle.
Vale, Jack R. Genes, Environment, and Behavior: an Interactionist Approach. New York: Harper & Row, 1980. Print.
Throughout Chapter 3 we learn of the effects of genes, the basic unit of inheritance made of DNA molecules and the interaction of genes and environmental influence on children’s development. We focus on the intricate interaction of specific genes and environmental experiences. More specifically known today as “Nature vs. Nurture”, where we continue to debate whether human development is more focused on our genetic inheritance or our environmental factors. Some people, like myself like to believe that our development is a result of both our genes and our environment as they interact in very complex ways.
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.
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.
In attempt to understand individuals, psychologists debate whether nature or nurture accounts for human abilities and capacities. The term “nature” refers to the characteristics and abilities that derive from genetics, such as eye color. The term “nurture” indicates the abilities and capacities we acquire from society and the environment around us – the things we learn. Both nature and nurture influence how humans behave and function. Determining where the qualities and characteristics derive from will help us understand and assist the subject we desire to learn about.
For centuries, people have been intrigued with the question of what is human about human nature. How much of people’s characteristics and attitudes comes from “nature” (heredity, unable to change) or how much is from “nurture” (the social environment, contact with others) and the ability to change. It is for certain that physical and mental abilities are established by heredity, such as ability at sports and mathematics. As well as the color of your eyes, the size of your nose and your mother’s freckles. While such basic orientations to life, like your attitude, are the result of the environment one lives in and thus fore can be changed.
The distinction between nature versus nurture or even environment versus heredity leads to the question of: does the direct environment or the nature surrounding an adolescent directly influence acts of delinquency, later progressing further into more radical crimes such as murder or psychotic manifestation, or is it directly linked to the hereditary traits and genes passed down from that individual adolescent’s biological parents? To answer this question one must first understand the difference between nature, nurture, environment, and heredity. Nurture, broken down further into environment, is defined as various external or environmental factors one is exposed to which can be more specifically broken down into social and physical aspects. Nature, itself broken down into heredity, is defined as the genetics and the individual characteristics in one’s personality or even human nature.
Throughout our lives we have all been influenced by our environment and other outside forces. Our environment may change the way we think, act and behave in life. Since we are all products of our environment, it comes to no surprise that we, as humans, tend to behave in a society the same way others around us behave but at the same time we strive to find who we really are (Schaefer 73). Since birth, humans have always analyzed the world around them. With each day that passes, humans take in more and more information from the outside world. The information which humans obtain through their environment subconsciously influences the decisions people make throughout their daily life (Neubauer 16). On the other hand, our genetics also play a vital role in determining what type of person we are and what will we become.