Nature versus nurture has always been a big topic for discussion between scientists. To take a look at this further I took a look at a couple articles: “A Thing or Two About Twins", “Nature vs Nurture in Psychology" and the book “As Nature Made Him: the Girl Who Was Raised as a Girl” by John Colapinto. The case generated is that nature is the reason that humans are the way we are. Nature meaning genetics and heredity, while nurture is focused more on the environment. This case is significant for a study because it helps us understand how we as humans grow and develop into the individuals that we are. In the book David Remier, also known as Brenda was the test subject of the nature versus nurture debate with psychologist John Money conducting …show more content…
The children were named Bruce and Brian. The couple was living a good life. Janet noticed that there had been some problems with the boys when they urinated. After being brought to the doctors it was decided that the boys get circumcised. Bruce was the first one to be circumcised, when a horrific accident happened. After burning the penis the child needed a surgery so he can urinate properly. After this accident, the doctors decided not to operate on Brian. When the couple was informed as to what happened they went through some tough times. After encountering a broadcasting of Dr. John Money talking about gender transformation, the couple became intrigued. Money stated “the primary factor determining an intersexual child’s gender identity was not biology, but rather the way the child was raised”. (page 32). The couple got in touch with Dr. Money and decided to change Bruce into Brenda. Money convinced them that the child was young enough that they could assign what sex they want the child to have, they just had to stop procrastinating. The child was being raised by a girl while the twin brother was still being raised as a boy. The child encountered many different situations through life
What determines who you are or what you will become? The debate between nature versus nurture is trying to figure this out. According to “Essentials of Psychology”, Jeffrey S. Nevid (2012) Nature versus nurture is the debate about how genetics and nature determine our behavior. In other words, have your attitude, behavior and health problems developed because of how you were raised or who you came from. It is a debate that has stumped psychologists for centuries. The study of twins, both identical and fraternal, have made it easier for psychologists to figure out this debate. So what is the answer to this age old debate; Nature or Nurture?
The historical debate regarding nature and nurture has been going on for years and is still unresolved. Many theorists believe what we have inherited and our genes, makes us the way we are and how we develop. Other theorists believe it is the way we are brought up and our experiences, that make us the way we are and how we develop.
The debate over nature vs. nurture has been researched and studied today and as well in the past amongst many different scholars with different views. Nature defines the characteristics that we are born with, like our genetics, stable personality traits, and physical conditions. While on the other hand, nurture is when our environment determines who a person is and who they will become; the experiences that mold and change us throughout our lives are all examples of nurture. Today, within many types of research it has been proven that a person is not born as a killer, instead, they are nurtured into one considering the way their parents raise them, what they are taught at school, and their culture. (Examination of the Psychology of Serial Killers,
The nature vs. nurture issues is the most important study of human development for many reasons. In fact, both issues play an important role in human development over time. One main reason why nature vs. nurture is an important study in psychology today is because of its developmental traits. Traits are characteristics inherited from your parents. Also, a trait can be something that is past down from generation, such as a person’s personality.
In psychology, the nature versus nurture debate is concerned about the degree to which are behavior is derived from genetic factors and environmental factors. Nature, in essence, means that we were born the way we are and this side of the debate argues that our biology has the greatest influence on our behavior. Nurture on the other hand believes that what a person has been exposed to and experienced has the greatest influence on their behavior.
The nature vs. nurture issues is the most important study of human development for many reasons. In fact, both issues play an important role in human development over time. One main reason why nature vs. nurture is an important study in psychology today is because of its developmental traits. Traits are characteristics inherited from your parents. Also, a trait is something that is passed down from generation, such as a person’s personality.
Nature versus nurture is a psychology term related to whether heredity or the environment most impacts human psychological development. Nature is what you already know and what is instinct. It also is what kicks in when you’re in trouble. Nurture is what you learn and what you observe by watching people. Nurture is what parents do when their kids are hurt or need them.
In psychology one of the most controversial topics is that of nature versus nurture. It is not truly known witch is more evident in intelligence, personality, and life style. In my opinion neither has more weight than the other, but there is always exceptions.
The nature-nurture debate has been around for decades. It is one of the oldest and most popular topics in the history of psychology asking what makes people who they become and how they behave and develop the way they do. What makes the debate more interesting is that now scientists are asking if personality traits and even sexual orientation can be determined by what is in already there from conception. Bodies are built up of chromosomes which contain genetic information. Many of these are inherited from parents and relatives. The nature side of the debate states the way people are is predominantly from inherited genetics and other biological factors not so much the environmental factors. The genes humans have in their bodies play a huge role to many aspects of who they are and who they become. For example, hair colour, eye colour and height are all predetermined by genes. Unchangeable. This is natures way. The argument stands to decide whether most attributes do stem from nature, genes, or if they can be affected by the environment and the way people are nurtured as they have grown. The nurture side of the argument believes although humans do have the genes and traits with which they are born, most personality traits are being made up of environmental factors. For example, being loved and cared for as children, if parents or carers were positive role models and if those people were taught in ways which provided them with discipline and respect for others. Where nature
To the world, it was very apparent that Brenda was different. Dr. Money however was relentless in encouraging Brenda’s new feminine identity, and as a result was unwilling to acknowledge her masculine demeanor. Money hid Brenda’s behavioral discrepancies from the scientific community. Although Brenda was far from feeling like a normal girl her age, Money’s reports said otherwise. Albeit false, he used her case as further evidence of his theory that “the child’s psychosexual differentiation will be congruous with the sex of rearing (Colapinto 55).”
Nature versus Nurture is a wide spread topic that many psychologist study. Nurture is the environment, while Nature is genetics.
You got your dark brown hair from your father, and you got your looks from your mother. But where did you get your excitement for sports and your love for all animals? One’s physical characteristics lean more towards genes and heredity, but our genes are not talked about as much when behavior is the topic. This is how the nature versus nurture debate came about. Scientists who believe in the nature theory believe that people behave the way they do due to heredity and genes. On the other hand, nurture scientists believes behavior is taught and influenced by the environment and the surrounding people. Many say that behavior results from nature, while others believe in the opposite, the environment. Human development has been viewed as one of the most highly controversial topics in the world of psychology today, and this debate is nature versus nurture.
Some people believe that nature and nurture are the same thing, but in fact they are actually completely different. While the behaviors that result from both may be similar, the reason and explanation behind these influences comes from a very different place. Nature versus nurture is an ongoing debate among individuals that study psychology. There are behaviors that are given through genetics and “nature” that make us unique, while nurturing from our environmental elements can make a difference in the quality of our performance.
Nature and Nurture, from chapter one, is the longstanding issue over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of personality and behavior. Science today, sees personalities and behaviors coming up from the communication of nature and nurture. I believe that the experiences you go through in life does make up how you behave, and what your personality is like when you are older. For example, if someone is constantly in a home that is negative and barely ever happy than when they grow up they are most likely going to be that exact same way. There are many different examples of showing how nature and nurture can be presented.
The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. The debate centers on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.