...genetics. We all have a gender identity, which is a private feeling of whether we are male or female. Two theories as used to explain this. The most influential theory is that our gender is the result of environmental influences. Specifically the way we are raised and treated when we are children by our parents and peers. According to Dr. John Money we are psychosexually neutral at the time of our birth. Only after we have been exposed to the nurture we are exposed to as children does gender set in. The second theory, which seems to be less popular, is that gender is a result of nature or the effect of hormones on the developing brain. When we are born, we are born with either a penis or a vagina. However, long before the child is actually born a process takes place that actually determines whether the child will have male genitalia (a penis) or female genitalia (a vagina). If the child is exposed to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone then male genitalia will be developed. If dihydrotestosterone is not present then female genitalia will develop. In early stages of development male and female genitalia are visually exactly the same. Around 7-8 weeks intrauterine the male organs begin to extend themselves beginning to form looking more like a penis whereas the female genitalia stays relatively the same. At about 12 weeks the genitalia is fully developed and either male or female genitalia is formed (University of Plymouth, 1994-2006). The theory of nature is mainly based on the outcome...
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...Abstract There has been an 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)...
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...identifies the meaning in gender identity. It is said that the sex of a child is biological (the genetic makeup) and the gender is psychosociocultural (male/female defined by social status). Specifically, when addressing the gender it is defined as ones role and personality that they assume, for example in the American culture females are nurturing and the males are to be aggressive. To understand the difference of the two, nature versus nurture, it is not until body parts are maturing to makeup the biological aspect of a person and how one acts upon this maturity is the character develop from the environment. Biological Factors- Nature Before humans are born gender is determined biologically based on feminine or masculine characteristics. Hormones linked to sexual characteristics and reproductive functions are found in different levels in males and females from infancy through adulthood (Hetherington & Parke, 2002). During the period of puberty the pituitary gland releases special hormones that trigger the tendency toward a specific gender. Though there is no solid proof of biological factors being the determination of one’s identity, that we are born with certain characteristics, one would even argue the fact that if a parent is an alcoholic does not mean the child will be one as well, though they carry the specific trait it will have other influences for one to go down that same path (genetic fixity). Environmental Influences – Nurture Since the first environmental influence...
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...How much power and limits does genetics have on our behavior? Do our genes determine who we are before we were even born? If not, how much does the environment shape our lives? The nature vs. nurture concept is fascinating, there are endless studies and evidence solely based on one single topic. Despite hundreds of thousands of research that have been done on this concept, the debate has not yet come to an end. The nature vs. nurture concept piques my curiosity, I wonder all the factors that contribute to shaping one’s identity and distinguish the differences between each individual. What I found most interesting about this topic is neither of the factors alone contributes to our personality, instead the environment and genes interact to...
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...Both Banks and Bennett explore identity in their respective novel/play, although both using differing methods to present their ideas and perspectives. For the authors the formation of identity is massive aspect of the growth of an individual through their adolescence, and is the most prominent focus for both Banks and Bennett. Throughout their works both writers explore the many aspects of identity, with a primary focus on the conflict of identities and how this can challenge an individual, and this is explored with the many elements of identity, such as the formation of identity and the importance of education during this stage, how gender plays into someone’s identity, and even aspects of religion. Neither Banks nor Bennett makes a conclusive statement on a definitive cause of the formation of identity, although it can be argued that each work infers a definitive influencer on identity, with both authors choosing a somewhat nurture over nature stance on personal growth although the balance of the formation of identity is differing between the character that is being discussed. For almost all characters within the works education is the most aspect of their identity in some way. For the boys in “The History Boys” education defines them in that they are all school boys, they are defined by what they do, this is similar for the teachers in the play also, this is contrasting to Frank in “The Wasp Factory”, who is ultimately defined not by his education, but specifically his lack...
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...Gender Identity Gender Identity is defined by, Encyclopedia Britannica “as an individual’s self-conception as being male or female, as distinguished from actual biological sex.” A person can identify the concept of being a male or female through their psychological alertness. As early as 18 months a child can identify one’s anatomic sex. Gender is always a debated issue in today’s society. Some people argue that gender is solely based on biological makeup (nature), or based on the environment and social interactions one was brought up in (nurture). In this paper, I will explain the interaction between hormones and behavior and how these interactions affect the determination of gender identity. From a biological factor (nature), gender is decided during fertilization. There is 23 pair of chromosomes that determines the sex of a fetus. Within the eggs of females, they only contain the X chromosome, although within the sperm of males it contains either an X or Y chromosome. The X and Y chromosomes in the male sperm are called sex chromosomes that determine the gender. In the womb, it is said that the all embryo start out as the same sex that all embryos have feminine looking genitalia. When the X chromosome of a male sperms reaches the X chromosomes of a female egg, the process of zygote takes places which, produce a combination of XX meaning the embryo is a female. When the Y chromosome of a male, reaches the X chromosome of the female egg in a process of zygote...
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...Nature versus nurture, the idea of whether biological, environmental factors or a balance of the two working together to determine a person’s life, is a controversial topic that has been debated for years. Researchers have conducted several twin studies to determine the answer to this decade old question. Nick Collins, a Science Correspondent for The Telegraph, tackled the accusations in his 2012 article. Collins conveys in his article that people have characteristics and even certain diseases due to both their biological factors and environmental surroundings. The journalist takes the nature versus nurture debate even further by stating that a person relies more on either their biological factors or environmental surroundings depending upon what area they live in. Collins uses a twin study...
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...Developmental psychology is studying how we –humans- develop throughout time. But what most people may ask is, what forces us to change as we pass through life? And there are multiple answers for this question. It could be because of the people we hang around, to the schools we attend. One specific researcher who specialized in developmental psychology is German biologist Konrad Lorenz, he studied imprinting, which is a form of early learning that occurs in some animals during a critical period. Lorenz wanted to know why do baby goose followed their mother around in a single line. He often asked himself “Do they follow mother goose because of an inborn tendency (nature), or do they learn to follow their mothers because of nurture? Which brings...
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...biological factors or what others see of them? This is the where the idea of the self and identity comes in. The self are the inborn characteristics that they are born with. Some examples are the physical characteristics that distinguish a person from other people, such as, gender and mental stability. The identity is how society shapes a person to be whom they want to be. Influences such as family, friends and communities are factors that shape a persons identity. There is a long debate of whether nature or nurture affects a persons personality traits which determines their identity. Nature would be if genes affect your identity and nurture would be what influences a person after birth. A girl named Genie is an example on how her identity was different from other children her age, after she was discovered being tied up to a potty train toilet. She wasn’t an active member of society which affects how slowly she developed. According to Gardeners Theory of multiple...
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...The start of this paper I think the best place to look is to the bible for what it says about our human nature as well as how nurturing plays a part inside the life of a person. When we look to the bible for understanding of human nature we are lead to see that our human nature is one of sin and death. Looking at Romans 8:13 for an example of this to quote part of it “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die” this tells us that if we live by our human nature that it will only lead to death. However if we finish reading the verse it also says “but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” this gives us hope that if we live by the Spirit there is hope in life. Furthermore we can see answers for how nurturing plays a key part inside our lives. Inside the bible we can see a lot of examples of what the bible says about nurturing a child to adult to bring them up right and proper. The best example I have found is inside Ephesians 6:4 to quote it says “bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord”. This is a great example of how to raise a kid inside a household. Moving forward to develop an answer to the first question on my opinion on the idea of the whole argument of Nature vs. Nurture took me on a road that really has left me with more questions than answers. What I have to say about this topic is based upon a lot of my personal experiences with addiction as much as with other addicts. To say out...
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...This research paper explores different published journal articles that report results from empirical research conducted by different theorist in the field of 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...
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...course and causes of developmental changes over a person’s entire lifetime. What does “genetic influence” mean? A. Historical Perspective 1. British empiricist philosopher John Locke in the 1690s argued that childhood experiences (nurture) permanently affect people. Empiricists saw the newborn as a blank slate or tabula rasa on which experience writes. 2. French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the 1760s argued the opposite, that nature alone gives children all they need to grow and learn, without adult guidance. 3. American psychologist Arnold Gesell in the early 1900s said that motor skills develop in a fixed sequence of stages in all children due to maturation, natural growth or change, which unfolds in a fixed sequence relatively independent of the environment. The term development encompasses not only maturation but also the behavioral and mental processes that are influenced by learning. 4. Behaviorist John B. Watson in the 1910s claimed that all development is due to learning. 5. Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget saw nature and nurture as inseparable and interactive in cognitive development. B. Understanding Genetic Influence 1. Behavioral genetics is the study of how genes affect behavior. This research demonstrated that nature and nurture jointly contribute to development in two ways. a) Nature and nurture operate together to make all people similar in some respects. Example:...
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...The 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...
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...Version 1.0: 0107 abc General Certificate of Education Psychology 5186 Specification B Unit 1 (PYB1) Introducing Psychology Mark Scheme 2007 examination - January series Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the candidates’ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of candidates’ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of candidates’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available to...
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...A person’s lifespan is from the moment of conception through death. Lifespan development is the different stages a person passes through as he or she develops. Perspective of lifespan development understands the changes that occur in development. Freud and Piaget have very different theories of lifespan development. Freud’s theory is a basis of id, ego, and superego, whereas Piaget’s is a cognitive development that occurs over a person’s lifetime. Nature and Nurture are more than perspectives in lifespan development they influence how and who a person will be. Lifespan development is the time from conception to death as a person develops and grows; the perspective in relationship to human development is lifelong, and theories of lifespan development can be seen in Freud, and Piaget, while the influences of a person life is nature and nurture. What is Lifespan Development A person’s lifespan begins as a fetus and as it develops and grows for nine months in the womb becoming a person either male or female will continue through stages in a his or her life. The study of human development is a science seeking to understand how humans change over their lifetime (Berger, 2008). The changes a person goes through as he or she grows can be linear-gradual, predictable, steady, but normally they are none of these. The common stages are birth, infancy, adolescence, adulthood, old age, and the ending death. To define lifespan development is also to mention that humans in their lifetime...
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