Nature versus nurture has long been debated, especially in psychological research. Are humans’ development preconceived by their genes, or developed during their life cycle from experiences? As time has pasts and many studies have been created, many scientists have put their input on whether nature, or nurture, has a major impact on shaping humans. Two psychologist, Aristotle and Plato, are two individuals who studied and argued this topic heavily. Plato thought that our character, intelligence, and certain ideas are inborn, while Aristotle contended that everything in the mind comes from our senses and the external world. (Myers & Dewall, 8) I strongly believe that while both may play a huge part in shaping us, nature has the most to do with …show more content…
Corporal punishment has been an integral part of how parents discipline their children throughout the history of the United States (Greven, 1991) and has been a focus of psychological research for decades (e.g., Caselles & Milner, 2000; Eron, Walder, Huesmann, & Lefkowitz, 1974; Glueck & Glueck, 1950; MacKinnon, 1938; J. McCord, 1988b; Sears, 1961; Straus, 1994a). With this study on children and corporal punishment from the parental figure, it is supposed to stop children from misbehaving immediately instead of constantly having to tell them and the child not learning. Although immediate response is the goal of this punishment, long- term moralizing behaviors is the main goal. With this punishment parents want the child to stop behaving immediately as well as remembering the punishment of what happens when they misbehave, then causing the child to keep the behavior away or controlled. The association between corporal punishment and children’s aggression is one of the most studied and debated findings in the child-rearing literature (Coie & Dodge, 1998; Steinmetz, 1979) Corporal punishment has been shown that it increases aggression in children and soon will cause criminal activity. When the child experiences the corporal punishment, in their future it may influence them to behave in the same manner as the parents did. This then can result in domestic violence situations in their
Nature or Nurture, which of these are the most important in shaping who we are? “Are genetics or environmental factors more important?” (Berk, 2014, p. 5) Researchers have been arguing whether nature or nurture is the most influential force in shaping human beings for a long time. The answer seems to be a complex combination of both nature and nurture. One thing that everybody can agree on is that human beings are more than the sum of our parts
There has been a significant amount of research on the impact of corporal punishment on children, and its effect on their behavior going into adolescence. Several studies have shown that experiencing physical discipline during childhood leads to higher acts of aggression towards others, that physical punishment leads to externalizing these aggressive behaviors (Lansford, Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 2004). By changing important variables for each study, several researchers have come to the conclusion that parent-child physical aggression has a more significant impact on externalizing behaviors if this aggression occurs during adolescence than at younger ages (Gunnoe & Mariner, 1997). Furthermore, past studies have demonstrated that the level of corporal punishment experienced as a child is directly related to the probability of using physical violence against intimate partners in the future, suggesting that this aggression could translate further than adolescence and into adulthood (Douglas & Straus, 2006; Swinford, DeMaris, Cernkovich, & Giordano, 2000).
The nature vs. nurture debate has been a long and bloody battle for the longest time for psychologists. Some believe that we are the products of our environment, meaning that we become who we are as a result of our upbringing, social influences, and schooling among other factors. On the other hand, the naturists believe that outside influences have nothing to do with how we turn out; it all depends on our genes. One psychologist, however, has made the attempt to bridge these two sides together. Robert Plomin’s work in genetics and psychology has helped people understand the roles the environment and genetics play in areas such as education, behavior, and development.
The basic elements of the nature-nurture controversy, debates the genetic or environmental effects of IQ, personality and behavioral differences in humans. Nature describes an inherited trait, otherwise known as the genes, containing the genetic code for each individual born. These genes contribute the physical characteristics, for example: eye color, skin pigmentation, hair texture, blood type, longevity, etc. Genes impose certain diseases, such as Huntington 's Chorea, Breast Cancer, Down Syndrome, and many more. Nurture describes an influence on the individual by the surrounding environment. This surrounding environment includes: parenting, culture, learned experiences, nutrition, exposure to toxins, pollutants and medications. In summary, scholars have been in debate for years over the issue determining the development of an individual from birth to an adult. Are issue of IQ, personality and behavior, inborn or are they learned? Or is it both? The nature-nurture controversy continues still today (McLeod, S. A. (2007).
The old question about nature versus nurture has made a lot of different opinions in the world. Some people think that everything that they are, is because genetic. However, other persons think that the environment makes who they are. In my opinion nature and nurture make people’s life different, depending what factor people take to develop the differences between nature and nurture, it can explain if all human behavior are learned or is part of it inherited.
Nature against nurture – that’s one of the most popular questions ever studied in psychology. Even today no one knows for sure what’s more valuable for our human development – nurture or nature. Many researches, experiments and discussions have been conducted to answer this question, but positive results are still unavailable. In this nature vs nurture essay you’ll find a brief history, significant characteristics of the nature versus nurture problem and fresh original thoughts on the
Nature versus Nurture has been a prolonged debate since the beginning of modern science. The argument is whether our characteristics, personality and behavior are affected by the environment or heredity. The nature theory is that our genes and hereditary plays a factor on how we look to the different traits we have. On the other hand, the nurture theory is that the environment and our personal experiences has an impact on who we are. Therefore, both factors play a major role in determining why some people commit serious crimes or to study if an adopted child has more in common with their biological family or adopted family.
The Nature vs. Nurture debate is one of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology. Since the start of the debate psychologists argued that you were either a product of nature or nurture, not both. Nature enthusiasts suggested that you are a product of your genes, while nurture enthusiasts suggested that you are a product of your environment. What if I told you, you actually could be a product of both? Newer research and experiments suggest that many human traits and behaviors actually result from both genetic and environmental factors. Your genes help to provide the potential for a trait, but in order for the potential of said trait to be realized, your environment has to influence
It has long been debated as to which provided the most influence on a child growing up. Would it be Nature or Nurture? “Nature refers to an organism’s biological inheritance, nurture to its environmental experiences” (Santrock, 13). Those who side more with the Nature side of the situation, state that it we gain our development through a foundation of evolution and genetics. This is explained by saying as a human grows they first enter the stage of walking, then speaking from minimal to more complex wording, grow rapidly in size as an infant, get bombarded with sex hormones as a teenager, and enter their prime physical physique. The Nurture opinion of things is quite contrary in the sense that it is thought that the biological and social environments in which one may be living in, produces a greater impact on their development. Research can go further to say that both nature and nurture play an equal role in human development. “Beyond Versus is Tabery’s attempt to bridge the gap between these two predominant forms of thinking about the nature/nurture, or genetic/environmental, relationship” (Safranek, 681).
The controversy of nature vs. nurture has been disputed for years. Nature vs. nurture refers to the question of which factors are most significant in determining development; those related to heredity or environment. It has been reported that some scientists think that “nature” is referred as the importance in heredity as the major determinate also known as “nature” the theory of human behavior. The nurture theory scientists believe that people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so.
In today’s society, it has become common to question what exactly makes us human. There are many questions to ask that pertains to the idealism of mankind, but the most important would be, “what shapes us into who we are?” The debate of whether nature or nurture molds the character of our being has been an exhilarating question throughout the history of time. Though this matter is only answered through individual perception, with nature being genetics and nurture serving as the environment in which an individual is raised from birth to adolescence. For centuries the argument between nature and nurture has brewed, yet it can be inferred that nurture has more of an
The nature vs. nurture debate has been a debate that has lasted through the ages about what the effects of biology as well as social influences has on a person and their behavior. The “nature” side of the debate argues that people are genetically predetermined to behave and react to situations in a certain way. The “nurture” side of the debate argues that our participation in social life is the most important factor in determining who we are and how we behave. Each side of this debate has very good points to argue its validity, making hard to decide whether a person's development is predisposed in their DNA, or a majority of it is influenced by life experiences and their environment. Today, we know that both nature and nurture play important
The oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the Nature vs Nurture discussion. Both are legitimate and it is very hard to decide whether a person’s development is prone to his DNA or influenced by his life experience and environment. Presently, nature and nurture both play important role in human development. However what remains unknown is if human is developed solely because of nature or nurture. . As of now, we know that both nature and nurture play important roles in human development, but we have not known yet whether we are developed majorly because of nature or due to nurture. Nature is the collection of genes in each human cell which determines the different traits that we have such as eye/hair color,ear size, height etc.
When I attended Lander University I was once asked before “nature or nurture”. At the time I had no clue, from a psychology prospective what nature or nurture meant. I also had the habit of being indecisive, so I answered back with a simple “I don’t Know.” Now that I am actually taking psychology I get an understanding why the topic is so important, and why it is so hard to be on one side of the matter. In my paper I will give definition nature verse nurture, examples of nature verse nurture, and also which one impacted my life the most.
For generations, the concepts of nature and nurture and the influence these have on a child’s development have been hotly debated. These two broad categories suggest a child’s unique make-up is a result of either genetics, or a product of their environment and experiences, respectively (Plomin et al. 2013). Although a small proportion believes strongly one way or the other, most people feel it is a combination of these concepts that shape us into who we are. This essay examines the increasing evidence that suggests nature and nurture both play significant roles in shaping an individual, beginning with a brief overview of the history and early perceptions of nature and nurture in development and how these views have changed over time. It also