Nature refers to genes and biological factors that contribute to our physical appearance or our personality’s. While nurture refers to how one’s environment or upbringing influences their personality. Psychologists that side with nature, debate the influence of hereditary and maturational processes guided by genes (Sigelman & Rider, 2014). Psychologists that adhere more to the nurture debate, feel as if humans change due to environmental factors. Development plays a huge role in the nature vs nurture debate, because development has been proven to stem from biological factors as well as environmental factors. The nature aspect proves the development begins with fetus and really is never ending until death. The nurture aspect proves that we develop …show more content…
This process brings an infant to full adulthood. Maturation according to general psychology is primarily based upon individual genetic makeup, universal maturation, and predispositions (Sigelman & Rider, 2014). Cognition is a vitally important element in mental development. Without the ability to acquire an obtain knowledge one cannot gain a sense of consciousness. Both nature and nurture play a role in mental development. Sigmund Freud believed that humans have an unconscious instinct and a requirement to fulfill an urge. He believed that as a child develops there energy is divided into ID (the selfish part of the personality at birth), ego (irrational way of satisfying urges), and superego (moral standards). Erik Erikson’s theory derived from the works of Sigmund Freud. His theory differs from Freud in two major ways. One, he believes that children develop through social demands and biological maturation. Two, he believes that there are eight stages and that the unsuccessful completion of a stage will not hinder you from advancing to the next stage, but will cause complications in the rest of the developmental cycle. B.F Skinner believes that children develop through consequences. As simple as these principles sound they are backed by the logic of operant conditioning. This states, learned behaviors become more or less probable depending on the consequences it produces (Sigelman & Rider, …show more content…
Some psychologists provide therapy while psychiatrists provide medication. Adolescents and teenagers sometimes have a severe change in behavior performance and personality due to both biological and environmental factors. They can be prescribed medication for example; a nine year old girl can be prescribed birth control to regulate her cycle. Another example, would be prescribing a child Adderall for them to be able to focus and learn in a school setting. Psychologists and counselors provide therapy to children that have experienced traumatic and stressful situations or events. For example, a child whose parents have divorced will affect their child’s social and environmental development due to stress and change of
The nature versus nurture theory is a way to distinguish whether certain traits or characteristics of individuals are impacted more by biological means or environmental means. What the “nature” part signifies in the the theory is that we are more impacted by heredity and biological effects of our personality and what defines us as a person. What “nurture” signifies is that environmental factors have a more powerful impact on our lives and personality. As we mostly know, most things aren’t black and white, and so it’s hard ro determine which type of factors is more effective. Most people believe that it’s a blend of both nature and nurture that makes us who we are.
How does one person develop into the human that he or she is? Do his or her characteristics depend on the qualities he or she was born with? Or does his or her upbringing mold them into the person he or she becomes? The debate between nature and nurture is one that can be difficult to conclude and thus has been argued for centuries. Sheri S. Tepper explores this issue in her acclaimed novel The Gate to Women’s Country. The narrator of the work, Stavia, lives in a woman-dominated, post-apocalyptic country, where the women’s goal is to breed out the violent and murderous qualities that men are believed to possess. These women have an preconceived ideal people who are “CAPABLE of violence and ruthlessness, but very much in control of their tempers
In the well-received novel “Pudd’nhead Wilson,” Mark Twain skillfully addresses the ancient argument about the origin of one’s character and whether it’s derived from his nature or his surroundings. We can best see this battle between nature versus nurture by inspecting the plot lines that follow the characters Thomas a Becket Driscoll, Valet de Chambre, and Roxana the slave. Thomas was born into a wealthy white family while Roxy birthed Chambers into a life of slavery. It seemed as though each would have gone their separate ways into opposite walks of life, but Roxy secretly swapped the children, which destined each to their counterintuitive fates. Through their words and actions, Tom, Chambers, and Roxy have proven the idea that one’s behaviors and desires are a result of his upbringings and the environment he lives in rather than by his innate nature.
For this first analytical essay, I have decided to have a go at analyzing the Nature Vs. Nurture using my own viewpoint as a sibling. No doubt this is a topic that has been debated to mental death already, but I think it is something I will benefit from thinking about. Also, at the end of my main topic, I will quickly address a topic brushed on in the book.
The nature vs. nurture controversy is an age old question in the scientific and psychological world with both camps having evidence to support their theories. The controversy lies in which is more influential in the development of human beings. While there is no definitive answer for this, it is interesting to look at each of them separately.
Nature, which is also known as hereditary, is the genetic makeup (DNA) that an individual carries from birth until death. Hereditary characteristics are different in each individual, group and humans in comparison to other species. Nurture on the other hand refers to environmental factors and similar to nature, an individual is also exposed from birth until death. These factors involve elements such as physical environments (prenatal nutrition) and social environments (media and peer pressure). (Social Issues Referencing, 2007)
== == Nature vs. nurture has been an oscillating controversy in the field of psychology for many years. Does one inherit genes, or does the environment affect one’s genes? The basis of nature is the principle that people have their personalities engraved inside their genes, which are inherited from their parents. The basis of nurture is that the environment plays a big role in the development of a person’s personality.
Nature in this debate is referred to as genetic or hormone-based behaviors. Nurture in the argument is referred to as environment and experience. A big issue in developmental psychology is the connection between .the innateness of an attribute (if it is apart of our nature) and the environmental effects on that attribute (if it is influenced by our nurture). Nature account of development would claim the processes in question are innate and are influenced by an organism's genes. Natural human behavior is shown as present biological factors, like genetic codes.
Nature vs. Nurture: Nature vs. Nurture centers on the contributions of inheritance of genetics and environmental factors in human development. The question is whether development is primarily influenced by nature or nurture? Nature refers to an organism biological inheritance. Nurture is referred by environmental experiences. Nurture has been expanded to include the influences on development that come from parental, prenatal, distance families and peer experiences. The nature proponents claim biological inheritance is the most important influence on development. The nature proponents
One of the most well-known debates in psychology is nature versus nurture. Nature is pre-determined traits, influenced by biological factors and genetics. Physical characteristics such as height, hair color, and eye color is all determined by the genetics we inherit. Nurture is the influence of environmental factors. Nature and nurture affects the physical, emotional, and social development of a child.
One of the hottest debates is and has been nature vs nurture for years, but what is the difference between the two? Nature is what people think of as already having and not being able to change it, in other words, pre-wiring (Sincero). Nurture is the influence of experiences and its environment of external factors (Sincero). Both nature and nurture play important roles in human development. Scientists and researchers are both trying to figure out which is the main cause in development because it is still unknown on which it is. The best position to side with is nature. Nature is also defined as genetic or hormone based behaviors (Agin). Regardless of the involvement in everyday life, or nurture, this argumentation centers around the effect genes have on human personalities. Although it is understandable on reasons to side with nurture, nature is the better stand in this controversy. Reasons to side with nature is because of genes and what genes hold. Genes is what
Development across the lifespan is one of the most interesting areas of psychology. The word development refers to human development which can be defined as “the scientific study of changes that occur in people as they age from conception until death.” (Ciccarelli, & White, 2009)Psychologists study this developmental change over time through several different methods. The book highlights three: Longitudinal design, cross-sectional design and cross-sequential design. Longitudinal design is a research design “in which one participant or group of participants is studied over a long period of time.” Cross sectional design differs from longitudinal design because cross-sectional designed research studies “several different age-groups of participants are studied at one particular time.” (Ciccarelli, & White)Cross-sequential designed research is a combination of the other two types; the cross-sequential research design studies participants by means of a cross-sequential design but they are also followed and assessed for a period of time no more than six years. A controversial topic associated with development across the lifespan is the theory of “Nature versus Nurture”. Nature versus nurture refers to the relationship between development and heredity and environmental factors. The answer lies on a spectrum between environmental factors and heredity. Psychologists on the environmental side are called empiricists. Empiricists believe that human development is fully influenced by a person’s environment. On the opposite side of the spectrum are the nativists. Nativists are psychologists that believe a person’s development is based completely on genetic factors. The facts are divided in relation to the two theor...
Nature vs nurture debate is one of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology. It is the scientific cultural, and philosophical debate about whether human culture, behavior, and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture. Nature and nurture are both equally important. They are the two are major influences that affect the person you grow to be and will determine what your children will be tomorrow. Nature refers to heredity, which are traits and features that are inherited from your parents and ancestors. At birth you, as a person, inherits 50% of each parent 's genetic material that are passed along through the chromosomes found in the DNA. Hair color, height, body type, and eye color are some examples of characteristics
In the study of child development, nature and nurture are two essential concepts that immensely influence future abilities and characteristics of developing children. Nature refers to the genetically obtained characteristics and abilities that influence development while nurture refers to the surrounding environmental conditions that influence development. Without one or the other, a child may not develop some important skills, such as communication and walking. The roles of physiological and psychological needs in a person’s life are also crucial for developing children. Humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow, suggested that humans don’t only aim towards survival, but also aim towards self-actualization (Rathus, P. 94).
Developmental Psychology is an area which studies how we as humans change over the period of our life span. The majority of the focus is broken into three categories: cognitive, physical and social change. The creation of who we are today comes down to the everlasting debate of nature versus nurture. This ongoing debate of what makes us who we are and which one is the driving force in development may be so simple that it’s complex. Rather than it being a conflict of nature “versus” nurture, it is very well possible both play an equal part in the development of us as humans. In the beginning, we start off as single cell in the form of a zygote. In that moment, where the DNA begin to form and the first seconds of life take place, the zygote is already experiencing interaction with the womb. In the process of determining why we are who are it is better to look more at the interactions of nature and nurture, analyzing how both have shaped us.