Nature vs. nurture is a well known argument that is often discussed by many psychologists, philosophers, and even everyday people. It raises the question on whether individual identity is shaped through biological factors, social factors, or if it is affected by both factors. Moreover, this argument delves into the territories of vertical and horizontal identities as well. A vertical identity includes the biological and social factors inherited from parents, while a horizontal identity consists of biological and social forces that are not inherited from the parents and therefore make the individual different. These two forms of identities are primarily constricted within a family point of view. A child exhibits either vertical or horizontal identities based on the identities expressed by his or her parents. These vertical identities that a child exhibits, are supported and nurtured by the parents, while the horizontal identities that the child has are constantly being “corrected” and “fixed”. Society also plays a major role in the nurturing of both vertical and horizontal identities. Based on the environment that the individual will be raised in, an individual’s identity will either flourish and grow, or dwindle and be hidden behind a persona that the individual puts on to please the public. This dance performed between nature and nurture is examined by Karen Ho in her essay “Biographies of Hegemony”, in Susan Faludi’s essay “The Naked Citadel”, and Andrew Solomon’s essay
To begin this essay, it is essential to define some key terms. The Nature-Nurture debate argues whether our behaviour is as a result of our biology (such as our genes or neurochemistry), or if our behaviour arises from learning from others. For the purpose of this essay, a bully is defined as “a person who uses their strength or power to hurt or frighten people who are weaker” (Oxford Student’s dictionary, 2007). It is essential to investigate why bullying occurs and how to prevent it as bullies as well as their victims are likely to develop mental health problems. Children and adolescents who bully often develop increased levels of negative mental health outcomes in adulthood, as shown in Copeland, Wolk & Angold et al’s (2013) study; 9.4%
How did your temperament flourish? The phrase nature and nurture relates to the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities as compared to an individual's personal experiences in causing individual differences, especially in behavioral traits. This debate is basically deciding if your genetics have more effect on you or society. Hereditary and environmental elements both frame identity. Identical twins are different in many ways. Personality changes over time. Studies have also shown that nurture is more dominant than nature in shaping personality. Nurture is definitely extra dominant in molding your identity.
The classic debated topic of Nature versus Nurture has been and will always be a quarrelsome subject in the scientific world. Meaning, the issue of the level to which environment and heredity sway behavior and development in a person. Nature can be defined as, behaviors due to heredity. This means the behaviors is based on the inherited makeup of an individual and is an influence of the growth and development of that individuals’ all through life. On the other hand nurture is causes of behaviors that are environmental. This Intel’s the influence is from the individual’s parents, siblings, family, friends and all other experiences that individual exposed to during life. However, these concept of ideas supports the inborn genetic framework,
Q) What was the basis of doctors reasoning to raise David (named Bruce at birth) as a girl? Explain the doctors reasoning in relation to nature versus nurture theories.
1) Use the example of feral children to construct an argument in the nature versus nurture debate.
easily traced as far back as the start of the present century with at least some
From Dr. Money’s perspective, raising Bruce as a girl would allow him to live a “normal” life, if he were to live his life without a penis, he would be seen as an outsider and rejected from society. He also suggested to put Bruce on estrogen, but also surgically give him a cosmetic vagina. Dr. Money explained to Ron and Janet that Bruce/Brenda, would psychologically mature as a woman, and be attracted to men, as well as be able to have sexual intecourse, without a problem. According to Bruce’s parents, there was no reason “that it shouldn’t work” (50). However, they could have thought it out thoroughly, what if Brenda didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin? Would she feel as though something is wrong with her? This is where the topic of
The argument of nature versus nurture is seen throughout parenting books and psychology journals. Can a parent truly change a child or is their future preprogrammed from conception? Parents and psychologists alike grapple with the relationship between nature and nurture. Orenstein (2011), a mother of a young girl, argues that gender is a socially constructed concept. Although she acknowledges general heritable and biological aspects of gender, she believes the environment a child matures in affects their expression of gender. Specifically, she believes young girls are socially reinforced to grow up loving dolls, the color pink, and the idea of princesses. Orenstein discusses how biases regarding gender are reinforced by environment, specifically
Throughout the history of human existence, there have always been questions that have plagued man for centuries. Some of these questions are “what is the meaning of life” and “which came first, the chicken or the egg”. Within the past 400 years a new question has surfaced which takes our minds to much further levels. The question asked is whether nature or nurture has more of an impact on the growing development of people. It is a fact that a combination of nature and nurture play important roles in how humans behave socially. However, I believe that nature has a more domineering role in the development of how people behave in society with regards to sexual orientation, crimes and violence and mental disorders.
Genetic and environmental impacts on intelligence have been known as “the nature versus nurture” debate. The arguments supporting the biological or the environmental implications that influence the way we think, learn, and behave have been popular topics among psychologists, researchers, and educators.
Is cultural discrimination an inherent characteristic or is it cultivated by the world surrounding someone? The debate over nature versus nurture is a long and drawn out one with many different facets to such a complex issue. Scientists have gone back and forth over what characteristics are innate and what is learned, offering different perspectives on the subject, but it is still an ongoing discussion. It is believed that the great debate began with Hippocrates. The people who support the side of nature believe that the characteristics of all humans are programmed into their genetic code before they ever leave their mother’s womb. People are born with certain
The debate of nature vs nurture is long standing in the world of Psychology. In this essay we shall look at the different perspectives and theories from the behaviourist and biological approaches and the objective of this assignment is to discuss the importance of attachment in human development. To do this we can make reference to the case of Genie who suffered severe neglect as a child. Behaviourism was first introduced by John Watson who opposed the naturists and took the view that the mind is there to be manipulated through conditioning methods and so attachments are learned. However there are theories and studies which counter the argument. The evolutionary theory of attachment was developed by John Bowlby a psychoanalyst. Bowlby 's theories lay in the nature side of the debate as he believes all actions are innate and we are pre programmed to form our attachments After presenting all the evidence and theories can any conclusions be drawn about forming attachments which are so critical for our human development.
The debate of nature versus nurture has been an ongoing debate for a long time. When applying this argument to education there is no proven winner. The nature side of the coin believes that a person is born the way that they are. This could include intelligence level or personality traits such as being outgoing or shy. The other side of the argument of nurture believes that the type of upbringing that someone has will play a large role in the way they develop. It is thought that if a child has proper parenting and schooling then their educational achievements will be higher than one who is from a “broken” home where education is not a high priority. This writer’s belief is that both nature and nurture come into play, but nurture has a bigger role in dictating ones success in school and life.
easily traced as far back as the start of the present century with at least some
Human development is a very complex process – from conception to death. There has been a long debate on whether human development is determined by nature or nurture. If their growths were all guided by nature only, they would all be born with a mind of “blank slate”. This means that they do not have any inborn ability to do anything when they are born. On the other hand, if their growth was determined by nurture only, it would mean that they were fully equipped with all the skills they need in their lives when we are born. In other words, all the physical and mental skills they have right now would have been inherited from their parents and the environment they grow up in has no effect. This essay will focus on the effects of both