The nature-nurture debate is all about whether genetics (nature) or our environment (nurture) is responsible for our behaviour and development. Early theorists believed that our personality, intellect, behaviour and gender role were determined by our genes and therefore could not be changed. But an increasing amount of evidence has proved these theorists wrong, and our development as an individual is learnt through the environment we live in. One developmental stage of an individual that psychologists have the nature-nurture debate about is the intelligence stage. The nature side of that intelligence is present at birth and we already have a set amount of intelligence.
Functions of the body associated with energy metabolism P4 – Explain the physiology of two named body systems in relation to energy metabolism in the body Throughout this booklet, I will be explaining how the body functions with the retained use of energy metabolism and the effects which are compiled upon the cells as a result. This will therefore enable me to come up with a coherent understanding of how energy works and the effects it has on different body organs. Energy can be defined as a substance of motion which allows the aptitude to do work. This therefore varies when talking about other forms of energy such as; heat, sound, light, nuclear and electrical which all have different properties enabling them to produce the form of energy they sustain. When an object takes in energy the energy profound cannot be created or destroyed but is in fact a matter of state relating to the rest mass of the object and resulting in the energy then augmenting onto the object, the release of energy therefore being increased.
In our matrix we will discuss Allport’s psychology of the individual theory, and the trait and factor theory. Both theories express how personality can change personalities and, the different associations that we have over time. Allport’s theory, psychology of the individual, sees human personality different from psychoanalytical and behavioral views. Allport believed that individual’s personality and behavior were not only determined by experiences stored in the unconscious but also by conscious decisions made in the present (Feist & Feist, 2009). Allport also believed that humans are not only organisms that react to rewards and punishment instead humans can interact with the environment and vice versa (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Furthermore the type of NS we have will determine the extent and nature of our learning abilities. As humans have evolved behaviour has become increasingly voluntary and less reliant on instincts, unlike the NS of animals which is much less complex. Another biological factor that is responsible for manipulating and controlling behaviour is the Genes and DNA that certain organisms possess. These are the biological blueprints, inherited from ones fore bearers, which determine behaviour and characteristics. Through genetic implants, engineering and specialized breeding, behaviours such as
Skinner stated that free will was simply an illusion • Bandura, believe that behaviours weren’t solely determined by external rewards/punishments, or people would constantly change to please others. Instead she believes people have long term goals they strive to meet. Skinner only focused on external forces determining our behaviour whereas our behaviour also determines our environment. • Biological approach to determinism, the belief that behaviours are determined by genes/internal system. For example they believe it is not the fault of mental people for being ill, there biology redisposes them to certain conditions, and can’t be changed unless manipulated (i.e.
Content theory explains why human needs change with time. Another theory that attempts to explain human behavior is Process theory. Content theory includes the work of David McClelland, Abraham Maslow and other psychologists as they attempted to explain why human needs change, but not how they change. Content theories explain the specific factors that motivate people. In other words, they answer the question What drives behaviour?
This weaker version seems to make more sense to me. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is in effect two propositions, which in a very basic form could perhaps be summed up as firstly Linguistic Determinism (language determines thought), and secondly Linguistic relativity (difference in language equals difference in thought). This topic of determinism and relativity can be applied to many areas – the study of to what extent technology influences our lives is termed the technological determinism debate. In psychology, discussion of this nature regarding the effect of environment and genetic makeup on our lives is called the nature/nurture debate. In a ‘purer’ form, there are philosophical questions of free will and determinism.
When they come into conflict with females, it's usually the male who wins. In this sense, male dominance is kind of a byproduct of competition between males. Sexual selection shapes males physically but also mentally- they tend to be more aggressive and more competitive. There are cases where males and females are equal but there are very few instances where females are dominant”. In popular mechanics there seems to be a couple who are getting a divorce or parting from one another.
So are our behavioral traits and characteristics learned and capable of change? Or are our behaviors innate and predetermined by our genetic makeup? Personally I believe a little bit of both theories; although some of our human traits are not subject to change, such as genetic qualities of hair and eye color, other characteristics like intelligence or athleticism, I believe, can be altered by human will power or choice. I do not believe human behavior is innate and that our lives are limited by genetic and biological factors. With the right environment, nurture, and determination I’m sure one can excel to their full capacity in traits such as intelligence or athleticism.
To analyze behavior experimentally, Skinner developed operant conditioning procedures. In this he manipulated the consequences of an organism’s behavior to see how it would affect future behavior. So the consequences “operate” on the environment, thereby affecting it and affecting future consequences. Unlike classical conditioning, operants are not elicited by any specific stimuli. Rather the response to a stimulus “operates” on the environment and thus creates a different response when it affects the environment differently.