preview

Nature Vs. Nurture In Child Development

Decent Essays

Once a child is born and their development continues, then starts the controversy and wonder as to whether how the child is raised effects their outcome in adult hood, or whether they are just born to be a certain way. Child psychology looks into the many different factors that affect the pregnancy and raising a child. Such as, parenting styles, and how the environment (nurture) and the genetics (nature) play an important role in the child’s development. One of the main, and most controversial topics discussed in a child’s development is, nature vs. nurture. Nature pertains to genetic influences that a child has inherited from their parents, such as traits, abilities, and capacities. For instance, what color eyes the child may have, how athletic they may be, and even their brain development. Whereas nurture, refers to the environment the child is raised in and how this shapes their behaviors. Such factors can include, the family’s socio-economic status, schooling, parental discipline, as well as whether the child is provided with enough resources. When it comes to nature or nurture having a stronger influence then the other, the answer is both, nature and nurture, influence the outcome of the child. This idea that both nature and nurture, play a part in how the child will develop, is known as the nature-nurture continuum. Furthermore, the nature-nurture continuum will demonstrate how every child will fall on this continuum that certain behaviors are a result of the child’s genetic makeup and the type of environment the child is raised in. For instance, a child’s intelligence can be considered under either end of the continuum, and for some cases, fall in the middle. If during a child’s development, a part of their brain is not developing properly due to genetic disorders this would be considered a matter of nature. Whereas, if it solely had to deal with the environment or upbringing the child dealt with such as opportunity to good schooling and services, would pertain to nurture. Except for some children, both would apply in that, the child may have inherited a genetic disorder which has affected their brain development and in turn are nurtured through an environment of plenty opportunities and services

Get Access