...The nature versus nurture debate has been an ongoing debate. The debate is regarding are human culture, behavior, and personality based on genes or environment. Nurture is the environmental factors, which includes our upbringing and experiences. In contrast, nature is biological factors and genetic inheritance. To demonstrate, nature and nurture plays a significant role in deciding if adopted children have more traits in common with their biological/ adoptive family or why some humans commit criminal activity. Jean- Jacques Rousseau, was a French philosopher believed that humans are people were born good, but become corrupted by the society and civilization. In that case that mean people become criminals due to nurture, so their experiences...
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...The Nature versus Nurture Debate Sharon Turzai Western Governors University The Nature versus Nurture Debate Nature versus nurture, a debate of the influence of genetics compared to a persons’ environment has been, and continues to be a debate of scholars over many years. On one side of the argument there stands “heritability, a measure of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by heredity” (Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2011, p. 247). The individuals’ environment or how, where and with whom the person was raised would be the other side of the discussion. On one hand, some believe that nature, the genetics of a person is what decides how a person shall end up in life. Many have argued that intelligence, personality, and even sexual orientation are decided by a person’s genetics. On the other hand, some have stated that it is the individuals’ environment, or nurture that molds the person. Some of course argue that both genetics and environment make up a persons’ destiny. “Today, most psychologists agree that both nature and nurture contribute to intelligence, but they continue to debate the relative contributions of these two factors” (Wood et al., 2011, p. 247). There has been much controversy regarding the nature versus nurture debate. The dispute that develops with the debate comes much from the social and political inequalities that is seems some of the research results in. There are many examples of such issues. Some individuals have...
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...Jerome Kagan once said, “Genes and family may determine the foundation of the house, but time and place determine its form.” This quote recognizes that nature and nurture both have roles in determining why people are who they are. Nurture explains that people are the way they are based on how society and their environment has shaped them. On the other side, nature states that people are defined based on genes handed down to them. Both explanations hold some truth; however, some people believe that one side is the only explanation. The Nature versus Nurture debate has lasted for many years. Two of the most famous people who researched and created theories on this topic were B.F. Skinner and Charles Darwin. Skinner believed in the concept...
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...When it comes to the nature verses nature debate, I always find myself sandwiched between the two. I am neither against nature nor nurture; nor am I biased to one side. The psychological theories (e.g behaviourism, cognitive psychology, biological perspective) that augment their respective altercations, while valid and fundamentally true, can be misconstrued by others, since we all collect different experiences throughout our lifetime. We all (at some point in our lives) face the effects of nature and nurture to some degree—regardless of the impact. While it is true that some of us are raised with more nurture than nature (and vice versa), it may be erroneous to conclude we are solely one or the other. I view myself as someone who has been heavily influenced by nurture as many people I have met throughout my life have affected me in ways I never thought were possible; as a result, I am able to cognitively think about the friendships (nature) and make rational decisions as to what I should do. Incidentally,...
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...The debate on Nature vs. Nurture raises the question of whether human behavior is developed naturally within our DNA, or learned in our surrounding environment in which we are brought up. This unresolved question has been discussed and debated since the late 19th century. Philosophers like John Locke and Aristotle favored the idea that the human mind begins as a ‘blank slate’ and it is experiences, guidance, and your perception that shapes who you are (nurture). While others, such as, Plato and Emanuel Kant believed our behavior and personality is by nature; embedded in and decided by our DNA and genotype. After analyzing both sides of the spectrum and my personal experiences, I believe both to be factors, Nurture is more significant in affecting...
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...The age old question of why juveniles commit crime is one that will never end. There are multiple theories that attempt to explain this occurrence, but two specific concepts stand out above the rest. It’s the nature versus nurture debate. This debate involves the belief that it is either the environment or biological traits that eventually lead juveniles to criminal behavior. Does some type of “evil gene” exist that causes some to commit crimes? There are some that feel that criminal behavior is due to a person’s upbringing and/or life experiences (“nurture”). Others feel that criminal behavior is much more than environmental factors and involves a person’s genetic makeup (“nature”). Are people just born that way? Is criminal behavior...
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...Nature vs. Nurture Troy Crosland WGU Issues in Behavior Science GLT1 Nature vs. Nurture Issues concerning the nature vs. nurture debate are amongst the oldest in science. This debate centers around the argument of biological and genetic contributions as opposed to those imposed on human development from environmental factors. Many scholars such as Descartes and Plato suggest many of our individual traits are inherited from our parents, they happen naturally regardless of any influence from our environment. John Locke and many other prominent thinkers have promoted the idea of tabula rasa (blank slate), which promotes the idea that when born our minds are like a blank slate ready to be shaped by experience and influence from our environment. (Cherry, 2011, p. 1) The controversy surrounding the nature vs. nurture debate is over whether children develop various attributes based on their genetics known as “nature” or is it more associated to how they are raised which is know as “nurture”. (Sessions & Larson, 2011, expression 1) So why does it matter if we are born intelligent, or become intelligent? There are many reasons the nature vs. nurture debate continues, her are a few reasons: * Parenthood/Relationships: If specific attributes are due to environmental factors (nurture), parents and educators can implement the most effective methods discovered in order to get the best results. If said attributes are determined to be more influenced by genetics (nature)...
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...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...
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...2014 Nature vs Nurture The nature vs nurture debate has been a raging topic for decades now. It has caused much controversy in justifying human characteristics, especially concerning the defense of criminal behavior. Many people believe that our actions and conduct comes from the genes we possess, and that we are born with a higher likelihood to act in certain ways. Others believe that our behavior is a result of our childhood, and how we are brought up. Extensive research has been done on the nature vs nurture debate. Although both nature and nurture ultimately affect one’s behavioral characteristics, it seems nurture has a much greater impact. So, is our behavior affected by our heredity and genes, or by the environment we grow up in? What is nature? “Nature is your genes. The physical and personality traits determined by your genes stay the same irrespective of where you were born and raised” ("Nature vs Nurture." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2014). Taking in the consideration of I.Q., studies prove that genetics has a great effect. Adopted siblings have no more similar of an I.Q. than strangers, while blood related siblings have an I.Q. correlation of .6. Twins especially, having an I.Q. correlation of .86 (Nancy,L. Same-Age Unrelated Siblings: A Unique Test of Within-Family Environmental Influences on IQ Similarity. Journal of Educational Psychology. 1997 June; 89(2): 381-390.) DeNoto, 1 Nature vs Nurture The nature vs nurture debate...
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...NATURE V.S. NURTURE The Nature vs. Nurture debate is one of the oldest and most commonly debated psychological conflicts around. Arguments from both sides on this subject are hard to dispute. Whether it is in our DNA or it was predisposition it’s hard to agree or disagree with either stand-point being that they both offer interesting and intriguing views that are insightful, informative and unfortunately unfounded. With that being said it’s still an argument that will continue to stand the test of time and continually be debated for centuries down the road until a definitive explanation can be fathomed. Nature vs. Nurture is a phrase for the long-standing controversy as to the relative influences of genetics versus the environment in the development of personality traits. Nature is represented by instincts and genetic influences and nurture by social influences and environment. The Nature part of this debate is influenced by the idea that we get our traits and characteristics from our DNA and nowhere else. It is easy to ascertain and prove that we get our physical traits such as eye color, hair color, height and otherphysical traits from DNA. The unknown is whether we get our more abstract traits from DNA like character, intelligence, sexuality and preferences to likes or dislikes. The Nurture side of this is debatea agrees that genetic influence is a key factor in the abstract physical traits but nothing more. It also goes on saying that the environment that we...
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...Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology PSYCH 101 Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology What makes you think, feel, and behave the way you do? Were you born predisposed to live the life you are currently living, or were you born a blank canvas upon which your experiences gave shape and expression to the person you are today? These are the types of questions the Nature vs. Nurture debate has posed and scientists have probed for over a century. In this paper we will look at some of the aspects of this debate the scientific community does not attend to, or dismisses, the origin and history of this debate, the essential characteristics around which this issue is debated, and where scientists are today in understanding this issue. What are your thoughts on the Nature vs. Nurture argument? Sir Galton wrote in his book English Men of Science (1874), “Nature is all that a man brings with him into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth,” (p. 12). I have been led to believe that our biology (nature), our environment (nurture), and our cognitive abilities all interplay and influence our resulting personality and other existing traits. We are, as Myers (2012) continuously asserts, biopsychosocial beings (p.124). These aspects of our existence work in accord to actuate the developmental potential written into our genetic code. Where I think there is a deficiency in the theories proffered, in attempt to answer the Nature vs. Nurture...
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...The psychological debate of nature vs. nurture is one that has been deliberated and refuted for many years. This debate is so controversial because although it is fact that genetic makeup does play a major role in developing a person, the nurture and environment in which a person is brought up in is also an important factor. The nature vs. nurture issue dates back to Ancient Greeks, through the times of Aristotle and John Locke, with each philosopher projecting their own individual thoughts on the matter. Although nature depicts the development of a person in terms of their appearance and certain personality traits, nature and the setting and situations in which a person grows up is more important in explaining the development of a person because ultimately a person is an overall reflection of the environment of which they were brought up in. Each person comes from different backgrounds, religions, and environments, which are all external factors that play a large role in the development of an individual. Diet, stress, prenatal nutrition, peer pressure, and television are just some of the more specific environmental factors that can affect a person. Clearly, there are many more aspects of the nurture debate that contribute to the argument that a person’s upbringing is what will influence their development. For example, NBC reported that in a study where teenagers played violent video games and non violent video games, the violent video games were proven...
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...NATURE VS NUTURE 1 Nature and Nurture Development Mary Smith PSY 330 Tim Wilder January 26, 2014 NATURE VS NUTURE 2 The nature versus nurture debate, as it relates to human development, is unique and gravitates to all humans for decades. In the field of psychology, the question frequently arises as to how much of human behavior is due to environment and how much is due to genetic influence. There are various methods used to determine if violent behavior is a function of nature or nurture. There was a study conducted in Germany and the UK, which involved a child’s behavior due to their environment and how much is due to their genetics. “It is society (or culture, respectively) into which the children are born, with its prevailing behavioral norms, creeds, social structures, attitudes, mentalities, etc., which imprints and profiles the newborn humans” (Voland, E., 2000). Nature are the elements which make up a person such as their qualities. Nurture is to raise, educate, support and love a person. Violence is a natural phenomenon that should be treated, or violence is a learned behavior that children should be taught to avoid. Before making an assumption or decision, onlookers of the debate should consider how genetics may come into play in the behaviors of individuals, how environment may affect an individual’s behaviors, and how they both may interact to create violence as a whole. Nature refers to an individual's...
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...Nature vs. Nurture There is an issue that has been conferred upon by philosophers in the past and still so by scientists today. This issue is whether heredity or environment plays a greater role in the determining or shaping of an individual's behavior. It is known as the nature versus nurture debate. Numerous generations before us have deliberated on the reasons behind the development of human behavior. There have been many theories formulated to explain why humans behave the way they do. The surviving theories for behavior derive from physiological and sociological explanations. However, the two explanations have not always been compatible with each other. The famous nature vs. nurture debate over human behavior resulted from conflicting views between proponents of the physiological (nature) and sociological (nurture) explanations. Throughout history, research has swayed popularity back and forth between the theories. Yet, theorists have broken down the line separating nature and nurture. As of today, people utilize both explanations to explore human behavior. Way before our time, early philosophers endeavored to understand the human behavior. As early as 350 BC, such philosophers as Plato and Aristotle tried to understand behavior. The question of nature or nurture as the primary drive can be traced to these times. Plato believed behavior and knowledge was due to innate factors. Author Fiona Cowie states, "The claim that the character of our mental furniture is to...
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...Since the beginning of recorded time one has been told that ‘you have your mothers eyes’ or ‘You’re tall like your father’ and it has been accepted that humans inherit their appearance traits from their parents, however where does one get their talent for hockey, their intelligence, or their habits; does one learn these from their environment or were they programmed by genetics? Well this brings to light the age old debate of nature vs. nurture. The Nature and Nurture debate stems into many areas that make humans what they are, with one of those factors being their religion, and when examining religion it is found that nurture trumps nature in shaping the beliefs of oneself. Since the Ancient Egyptians and even before (Mesopotamians) religion and spirituality have existed, there has been a consensual acceptance that there is a God, and when one closes their eyes for the last time, they become one with God, or in some cases; the devil or the ‘netherworld’. Through those times and the times of the Catholic church according to world renowned psychologist Dr Olivera Petrovich; “Religion has become the natural state-it is now hard wired by families into babies brains, it is atheism that is learned”. She bases the mantra of religion being parental based on a study of four hundred B.C. children of different faiths, and many aged four-six Japanese children. When asking all of these children about their faith they all without any guidance from their parents say they believe in God;...
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