...Discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of the individual (M1) & Evaluate how nature and nurture may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of two stages of the development of the individual (D1). Nature can be loosely defined as genetic inheritance or the genetic makeup (the information encoded in your genes) which a person inherits from both parents at the time of conception and carries throughout life. Several things in an individual genetically inherits include; ranging from gender, eye colour, risks for certain diseases and exceptional talents to height. The concept of nature thus refers to biologically inherited tendencies and abilities that people have and which may get revealed later on as they grow up. Nurture can be defined as the different environmental factors to which a person is subjected from birth to death. There are many environmental factors. They include both physical environments and social environments. Some theorists believe that people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or even because of ‘animal instincts.’ This is known as the ‘nature’ theory of human behaviour. Other theorists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the ‘nurture’ theory of human behaviour. (www.yourenglishlessons.wordpress.com) Nature refers to the inherited (genetic) characteristics and tendencies that influence development. Some inherited...
Words: 3041 - Pages: 13
...Nature vs. Nurture ECE205 Mrs. Tonya Jeremiah 10/12/2015 The nature versus nurture debate is an old issue within the field of psychology. Nature vs. Nurture is a scientific debate that describes how humans develop gradually and become who they will be in life. The nature-nurture issue has continually one that has resurfaced in come back up recently in research becoming a debate on the variety of roles that gene (DNA) and an individual’s environment may or may not affect an individual’s mental state of mind. Researchers debate what is inherited; which is related to nature, and what is caused from one’s surroundings or environment which would be one’s nurture. It is said that the debate essentially refers to how each individual is affected developmentally by nature vs. nurture. This debate details rather or not intelligence, gender identities, violent behaviors, and sexual orientation is caused by one or both nature and nurture. Looking at research there seems to be a variety of different studies that explain whether intelligence is in fact an inherited trait; or does an individual’s environment whom they will become. When discussing the environmental factors, there are many elements that must be looked into make a successful determination as to if a child is affected by their surroundings. Research has said that both physical environments and social environments play a major role in child development. For example a child’s prenatal nutrition can cause lifelong effects...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...Culture and Development Culture plays an important role in the development of a child. It can play a very beneficial part in their physical, cognitive and social development. Another important part of development is nature. Does nature play a more important role than nurture? A child’s culture is made up of different customs, practices and social behaviors that the child’s family is involved in. For example, religious beliefs, different rules the family has or activities they are involved in. Most likely if a child grows up in a Christian home they are going to follow those same values when they get older. If a family is active and involves their small children in the activities then the children are more likely to grow up with an active lifestyle. Culture has a big influence on the development of a child. Physically, a child can learn from their parents how to live a healthy lifestyle. How to eat healthy and take care of their bodies with healthy exercise. Culture can also affect a child’s cognitive development through how those that surround a child teach that child. Do they take time to work the child to develop different skills and knowledge? It affects their social development. Children who experience the security of loving parents and have strong attachments to their parents are better able to reach out to relate with others. (Seefeldt, 2010) Nature and Nurture both play a very important role in a child’s development. Many people argue over which one...
Words: 531 - Pages: 3
...Impact of Nature and Nurture on Human Life Name School September 24, 2013 Introduction Most educated people have probably heard of the terms nature and nurture before. The thing most people do not realize is how big an impact each of these makes on all of us. This paper will discuss the impact that nature and nurture have on human development. Nature and nurture are two words used to describe the development of humans. There has been an on going debate in psychology to whether heredity or the environment most impacts human psychological development. Many believe that they go hand in hand because one affects the other. Nature is a word used to describe the genes given to each child by their parents. Nurture is described as how children are affected by their surrounding environment. This paper will discuss the topics of how development may be different depending on where you live, the effect of nature and nurture on stress, behavioral genetics, give a summary of the points and then a conclusion. Environment Ones environment impacts nurture. The type of environment one is in can include anything from what type of house to what city, and even what country is lived in. A person who grew up in a big city will have a very different nurture than someone who grew up in the Amish lifestyle. Not that one or the other is better; they are just completely different environments. An article by Carol McNamara explains how a combination of nature and nurture are how humans develop...
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
...Human development has been and would continue to be a very complex process; from birth to death. Human development spans a broad range of human endeavor that has attempted to understand why human beings to the things they do, grow the way they do, and the potential of human beings. There has been an ongoing debate whether human development is impacted by nature or nurture. If the growth of the individual were to be guided by nature, the individual would take the position that all or most of its behaviors and characteristics are the result of genetics inherited from their parents (Colella, 2013). Meaning that they were fully equipped with all the skills they need in their lives when they are born. On the other hand, if an individual’s growth were guided by nurture only, the individual would think and behave in a certain manner because that is how the individual was taught to do so or from experience (Colella, 2013). In this case the individual is also impacted by the environment surrounding them. Although nature has some impact on human development on an individual, nurture has a greater impact on an individual’s development. It has a bigger affect on human development due to early childhood experiences, acquired intelligences and socialization throughout their life. Early childhood is the most and rapid period of development in a human life. The experiences gained from birth to the four years of age are critical to the complete and healthy cognitive, emotional and physical...
Words: 2217 - Pages: 9
...Nature-nurture still play a big role into learning child development and rather or not children learned the traits that they have or it’s just genetics passed on from the parents. Nature focuses on how the information that children learn shortly after coming out the womb is hereditary and has been imprinted on them since they were in the womb. Nurture focuses on the information that children learn is strictly learn by environmental factors and psychological experiences. Which of both makes up a child in everyday life, but I would agree that environmental factors and psychological experience outweigh the hereditary opinion. Nurture seem to make more sense just like the Gary and john story they were both predisposed to environmental risks such...
Words: 631 - Pages: 3
...Claire Busse Mr. Upchurch Composition I Oct. 27, 2016 Nature vs. Nurture “You inherit your environment just as much as your genes” (Rich, Johnny). Does one act a certain way because it's in their nature, or because they’re nurtured? One of the oldest questions, seems to be the hardest one to answer. Studies have been done of sets of twins, tests in labs have been performed, and debates have been held to get different opinions. The nature versus nurture debate began in 1869. Psychologists find this topic very difficult to find an answer to. Some agree with the nature side and the nurture side, “although we can learn and acquire traits from our surroundings, we are also born with unique abilities” (Origins). In the 1960’s, researcher John...
Words: 547 - Pages: 3
...psychology. By looking at the empirical research on nature versus nurture and how it takes both nature and nurture to develop the personality, the baffling question of what influences personality development can start to be answered. The unconscious is also proven to have its influence on personality, by events sealed away in the unconscious of the mind, the influences help to develop the personality and the person to become their self. The self is the person who relates to others. It refers to a unique set of traits, behaviors, and attitudes that distinguish a person in their culture. With in every culture are influences on the personality development by the customs that dictate to how a person should act in the culture they live. There are many other influences on the personality development such as, birth order, a person’s genetics and the different ego states that are all different parts, but are the results of the one whole personality. This research paper will explain and reveal the mystery behind one person being motivated and mature and another person that is not. It contains valuable and revealing information that will explain the different influences on the development of the personality that mold a person’s personality to form one, whole and unique person. View of Personality Development Even after years of research, studies and opinions, all the theorists have not agreed on the definition of how the personality develops. Most of the personality theories...
Words: 3767 - Pages: 16
...Nature versus Nurture Cindy Dean ECE 205: Introduction to Child Development Instructor: Alan Reitman August 3, 2014 Nature versus Nurture The topic Nature versus Nurture has always been a difficult topic in the scientific world. These problems of levels to which environment and inheritance influence behavior and development in a person. Nature is an example of behaviors due to inheritance. These methods of behaviors are founded on the genetic make-up of an individual as well as influence of the growth and development of that individuals’ all through their life. Another example of nurture is the causes by behaviors that are environmental. This includes the guidance from the individual’s parents, family, siblings, friends and all additional knowledge that individual revealed during their life. Nevertheless, these hypotheses of beliefs provide the inherited genetic framework, received from our parents it is the unique factor in our behavioral characteristics. Nature and nurture are two opposing viewpoints that created a whole army of ideas, guesses, and opinions in psychology. The difference between nature and nurture are not enough to put one corresponding to the other. Behaviorist surroundings is the positions that skills and genetic characteristics are passed on from one generation to the next is called nature. For example, if a person’s father and their maternal grandfather are both good at sports, then more than likely they will inherit the gene. Genetically...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...question is whether nature or nurture has more of an impact on our development. I believe that nature has a more dominate role in the development of how people behave in society with regards to sexual orientation. Nature determines our height, hair color, eye color and gender. Could it be possible that nature also affects the way we behave? Is it possible that nature affects us in more ways than we may have imagined? I believe that traits such as shyness and psychological illnesses can all be traced back to our genetics; traced back to nature. I...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...ongoing debate over what affects gender identity more, nature or nurture. One’s gender is decided at the time of conception. Gender identity is defined as a personal belief of what it means to be a boy or a girl (Ghosh, 2013). As children grow and develop they are exposed to ideas, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that aid in the development of their sense of self (Witt, 1997). It is impossible for a child to grow to adulthood without experiencing some form of gender bias, such as boys should not wear pink and girls should not play sports. The gender stereotypes they experience at home is reinforced by additional ones they are exposed to in school and from friends (Witt, 1997). Most times children will develop a gender identity that matches his or her genitalia but sometimes this is not the case. So the question remains, what affects an individual’s gender identity more, nature or nurture? Gender Identity Gender identity is defined as a “complex system of beliefs about the subjective self in relation to masculinity and femininity” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187). Gender roles, maleness, and femaleness, have been argued to be a factor of environmental influences, the nurture aspect of child development, and nature, the biological aspect. “Gender identity presents itself in how people outwardly express masculinity and femininity in everyday life and how others respond to this expression” (Ault & Brzuzy, 2009, p. 187). Studying how hormones cause types...
Words: 1480 - Pages: 6
...Human Lifespan Describing the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of; Infancy- 0-3 Childhood- 4-9 Adolescence- 10-18 Adulthood- 19-65 Older adulthood-65+ The final stages of life How is a baby conceived? Sperm fertilises the ovum (reproductive cell) and a new life begins. From this about two weeks after conception the hormone which is known as chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) will be found in the woman’s urine and from this a pregnancy test will show positive. Pregnancy last for approximately 40 weeks, but will vary depending on the individual for example; their weights, their diet and generally their lifestyle. Did you know? Most babies weigh between 5 1/2 and 10 pounds, and are between 18 and 22 inches long. Male babies are generally slightly heavier and longer than female babies. Pregnancy individual who is pregnant, your body changes in many different ways for example; the women will start to feel nauseous, begin to have a metallic taste in their mouth and will begin to experience breast tenderness, but of course this is also depending on the individual as not everyone gets the same symptoms and pain when experiencing pregnancy. Birth and Infancy Physical development- In the first three months of a baby’s life, they will begin to learn how to control their movements and muscles. The head is the first movement of motor control and then they will begin to learn how to control the rest of their muscles from the head down. Once a baby has reached...
Words: 5601 - Pages: 23
...D1 – Analyse the significance of genetic influence as opposed to social factors in human development. Nature is that which is inherited or genetic and nurture is how we are brought up in our environment, including personal experiences in life. Nature is the biological genes that are passed down from the parents whereas nurture is the environment such as wealth and education passed down to the genetic offspring. Genetic factors are part of nature as they are innate through the genes from their parents, for example cystic fibrosis which is when there is faulty genes and also down syndrome is when they have an extra gene. Social factors are more of an individual’s development for example the society, education and the status of the family a child is brought up in will affect their development. Nurture Nurture theory holds that theory that genetic influence over abstract traits may exist. However the environmental factors are the real origins of our behaviour. Although it’s true that fraternal twins raised apart have similarities in most aspects, still the intervention of the environment has caused several differences in the way they behave. Nature The coding of genes in each cell in us humans determine the different traits that we have, more dominantly on the physical attributes like eye colour, hair colour, ear size, height and other traits. It is still not known whether the more abstract attributes like personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, likes and dislikes are...
Words: 583 - Pages: 3
...Health and Social Care Unit 4 Development through the life stages D1 Evaluate how nature –nurture may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development for two stages of development of the individual. Nature * Voice * Ability to move * Appearance Nurture * Characteristics * Shyness * Being abused at a young age * Appearance In this assignment I will be explaining how nature and nurture are involved in Michael Jackson’s development of his childhood and adulthood. I will start of by explain what is meant by Intellectual, Social, Physical and Emotional development. Then I will carry on explaining the different events that occurred in Michael Jackson’s life and how it was either nature or nurture. Intellectual development: “Begins shortly after birth, when babies learn to use their brains to play, respond to caregivers and familiarize themselves with objects and other people in the attempt to learn about the world around them. The process continues through all of children’s lives, as they go to school, form intellectual relationships with others and learn new skills. Intellectual development continues to the end of a person’s life, but it can be largely impaired by illness, emotional insecurity, failing eyesight or hearing or through the lack of communication with other people.” (http://www.ask.com/world-view/intellectual-development-mean-b363c12a7264f641#full-answer) Emotional development: “Refers to a child’s growing...
Words: 2224 - Pages: 9
...Nature versus Nurture The debate of nature versus nurture has been in people’s minds for a long period (Shaffer, 2008). The controversy concerning the issue is complicated because both nature and nurture play an important role in shaping one’s character. Although genetic makeup does influence how a person develops, the environment where one is brought up has a significant effect on the character. According to Keating (2010), the nurture versus nature debate dates back to the time of John Locke and Aristotle. The two philosophers had individual thoughts on the matter. Despite the arguments, it is accepted that the environment plays a bigger part in the development of one’s personality (Dowling, 2010). Psychologists argue that nature has a great influence on one’s character. Indeed, nature deals with a person’s genetic make-up as well as biological psychology. Genes determine physical traits such as blood type and eye color (Shaffer, 2008). Biological Siblings tent to show similar personality traits compared to adopted ones. Moreover, a person’s genes can determine whether a person can suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer. A person who suffers from such diseases shows how nature can play a role in the development of a person. Keating writes, “The nature debate is credible because of the genetic factors that support how people’s personalities and appearance develops, yet the nurture of a person ultimately overshadows the nature debate because...
Words: 618 - Pages: 3
