The nature debate, which believes that an individual’s behaviors are determined by their genetic makeup, passed on from parents to their children through DNA. It is a theory chosen by the biological and the mental approaches and is also backed up by the Darwin’s theory, in the aspect that if a child, for example, was aggressive from a young age; biological psychologists would argue that this is because of our evolutionary cycle and that we have developed violent behaviors
Nature in terms of health and social care defines as the qualities we are born with that makes us what we are. Nurture defines as how we are influenced as a child by the environment around us, including other people. Many scientists, philosophers and researches argue that individuals’ personalities and talents come from their DNA and many others argue that the majority of it is influenced by life experiences and the environment. There have been studies involving identical and fraternal twins to find out if it is the genetics (nature) or environment (nurture), which was the effective one on the case of personality development. Which side of the debate is more influential?
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.
M1 :Discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual In this assignment I will be discussing the nature- nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual. The nature- nurture debate has been around for many centuries which argues about the role of heredity and environment in human development. The nature – nurture debate is concerned with particular aspects of behaviour which are believed to be either a product of inherited or learned characteristics. Some philosophers and theorists have argued that we are just born to be the way we are. Whereas other theorists have argued that is is the way we are brought up and influenced by our surroundings that makes an individual the way they are.
For example, a teenager who has friends that are aggressive. That teenager can change his behaviour and come also aggressive due to the environment influences that he is around nearly everyday of the individual’s life.There are debates that argue that people are shaped by biology and genetics. The nurture that if it is the social, economic or environmental influences around a person that makes them a certain way, such as life experience. Some say that social life is the most important factor in determining who are and how we behave. The nature or nurture debate is concerned the with the contributions of genetic inheritance, and environmental factors to human development.
Nature vs. Nurture Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not genes that we inherit affect us and how we live, or if it is the environment that we have been raised in. There are many different reasons for why one is more correct than that other. But, all of the reasons can be backed up with very good evidence and reasoning. Personality, development, intelligence, behavior and ability to do certain things make us the individuals that we are. But what influences those things?
Essay: describe and explain (from the video) how nature (inherited instinct biology/genes) and nurture (environment or upbringing (how are you treated/taught)) can affect a child’s development. In order to answer the focus question, we would need to understand the terms used. Nature describes the basic skills that are “hardwired” into our brains such as what a baby can do when it is born. A deeper understanding of the term would lead to a debate on the theory of evolution as, if a creature could be born knowing certain things such as speech already without being taught, that would have to be a form of evolution and then nurture would become nature. The term nurture refers to the way a child or adult was raised and the effect it had on their personality, such as a person’s language.
Are we programmed to care primarily for self, relatives and survival or to sacrifice for the strength of survival of our “group?” This question can be dated back to as early as Charles Darwin, August Comte and Richard Dawkins. Grossman adds that Richard Dawkins believed that people of evolution are the selfish ones and that altruism must be taught. This is saying that we as humans are born into a word of greed and deceit, but must learn to share and unite with others. Although both sides are argued throughout the article, it is not known which side is correct and the question will still continue to be a subject of numerous scientists and psychologists over the
Nature vs. Nurture Scientists believe that traits such as hair and eye colour are determined by specific genes encoded in each human cell. They now also believe abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression and sexual orientation are also encoded in an individual’s DNA. This is known as the Nature theory, whereby it is the genetics and the characteristics that have been inherited from generations earlier that make the person behave the way they are. The Nurture theory however has a different approach to human behaviour, and although it does not completely discount genetic tendencies, the scientists studying this theory ultimately believe that genetics do not matter. They argue that our behavioural aspects originate only from the environmental factors of our upbringing.
Feldman (2009) defines the nature nurture debate as the issue of the degree to which environment and hereditary factors influence the behaviour. According to Flanagan (2002) nature refers to behavioural or physical traits found in a developing child that are due to genetic factors. Feldman (2009:39) says “nature refers to hereditary factors, characteristics and tendencies that influence development.” Thus nature can be defined as inborn characteristics such as generic diseases evident in a developing child. Santrock (2004) defines nurture as environmental factors that have an influence on the development of a human being. According to Bernstein (2011) nurture refers to all environmental influence, after the birth of a child that affects development.