What Does it Mean to be a Human: Constantly Changing Definition There has been an ongoing debate within psychology circles as to what makes greater impact on a person’s behavior – one’s genetics and inheritance or upbringing and surrounding. There are numerous proponents on both sides. It is a conventional wisdom for everybody that certain physical characteristics are predetermined before we are born as they come from genetics: color of the eyes, hair, body structure, color of skin etc. Each person has its own unique genetic code. This fact has led many scientists to think that a set pf psychological characteristics are predetermined too. For example, mental abilities, behavioral patterns, speed of speech etc. This is a so-called …show more content…
It suggests that at birth a human’s mind is tabula rasa (a blank slate). Through experience and environment this slate fills in with behavioral patterns and attitudes (McLeod). The way a person is brought up governs the way he or she learns and matures in the future and shapes its behavioral differences from other people. Between biological and behavioral approaches to understanding a person there are many other approaches that are not that radical in their explanations as to why one people behave differently from others. Freud’s theory, for example, is that all people are governed by innate drive of sex and aggression (nature). However, the way they externalize it depends on social upbringing and environment (nurture). As opposed to Freud’s approach, social learning theory says that aggression is learnt from the environment through observation and imitation and is not inherited (Davies). Another debate was provoked by American psychologist Arthur Jensen that argued that 80% of intellectual abilities of a person come from his or her genes. He made this assumption after conducting an experiment were he evaluate IQ of African race against Caucasians and identified that the former had significantly lower IQ points. For many environmentalists, however, such drastic differences in IQ testing are due to socially biased methods of testing (McLeod). Moreover, it only proves that society is very important in enhancing or decreasing intellectual abilities as the majority
The nature vs nurture issue has been a controversial argument among psychologist for decades. This argument exposes two different views. One of them emphasizes that our personality depends solely on genetics (nature). On the other hand, the second view suggests that humans “develop through experience” (Myers 2013, SG 6) (nurture).
These above mentioned evidences shows that human behavior is determined by nature or genetic influences. Our race (color of the skin and other bodily features (sex, certain diseases, flood groups, are no doubt inherited. Human beings are directly influenced by nature. For example, hunger, thirst, physical fatigue, gradual but in exorable degeneration human body all constrain our human life, shaping what we can do and can be. For example vigorous physical exercise is beyond the capacities of virtually all
Human behavior is affected both by genetic inheritance and by experience. The ways in which people develop are shaped by social experience and circumstances within the context of their inherited genetic potential. Each person is born into a social and
During our lifetime every one of us feels anger and aggression occasionally, some more than others, maybe as a child in the play ground or later as an adult when somebody cuts you up when you are driving along. But what causes anger and aggression and why do we all suffer from it? Well there are lots of different theories to what causes aggression and where aggressive behaviour comes from. So throughout this essay I will examine the different concepts and theories from different psychologist and develop and show an understanding of Aggression
Such findings and the current state of the emerging field of behavioral genetics are summarized by the distinguished academics Cynthia Coll, Elaine Bearer and Richard Lerner, editors of the compendium Nature and Nurture: The Complex Interplay of Genetic
Until recently, it was very difficult to determine is a child 's biology could affect their behavior. This is an example that brings the argument of nature vs. nurture forward. Certain behaviors can be difficult to determine whether it is a learned response or a biological response, but recent studies of twins and adopted children have shown " that antisocial behavior is 40 to 50 percent heritable" (Kaiser, 2012). What is interesting about such studies is how a child 's challenging behavior can develop by both biology and environment. This means that even though a child may be genetically predisposition to a certain problem behavior, with the right environment the behavior can
Is one’s life set in stone right from birth? Or does an individual gain certain qualities through experiences in life? Nature versus nurture has always been a controversial debate, and there are many different theories and explanations that have been provided around the world, and although many of these statements are true, no one has come to an official conclusion that explains this psychological phenomenon. There have been hundreds of studies conducted in order to explain this topic, and the findings can help develop an understanding that can eventually define the truth. By analyzing certain cognitive traits in individuals it is possible to learn whether these certain traits are predisposed or if the environment one grows up in influence the appearance of the traits.
The world of Genetics is one that is both fascinating and interesting. When tackling how genetics plays a role in behavior, one must look within the scope of what genetics is before dealing with how it plays a significant role in one’s behavior. Simply put, genetics is the study of genes. It is a biological component within the entire study of biology itself. Scientists who study genetics and perform research do so with the intent to learn more about how genetics affects the overall attitudes, behaviors and dispositions of individuals. It could be said that genetics is somewhat of a psychological-biological science as researchers look at the underlying patterns within the genes that cause
Is behavior learned? It is inborn? What of aggression, intelligence, and madness? There is a crucial relationship between the behavior of humans toward their own kind and the view of life they hold. Interest in behavioral genetics depends on wanting to know why people differ. According to Jack R. Vale, in Genes, Environment, and Behavior, recognition of the importance of hereditary influence on behavior represents one of the most dramatic changes in the social and behavioral sciences during the past two decades. A shift began toward the more balanced contemporary view that recognizes genetic as well as environmental influences on behavior. Behavioral genetics lies in its theory and methods, which consider both genetic and
It is a matter of concern whether human behaviors and characteristics are determined by nature or nurture. If a person’s behavior is inherited directly from the genes of his/her parents or other biological factors, then it is the nature that determines his character. But if the environment that a person grew up in, affects his behavior, then it is the nurture that determines his/her character. It became a great matter of controversy among scientists, psychologists and sociologists. Previously, many people believed that human behavior was instinctive. It can neither be taught nor learned. But later some psychologists came to the conclusion that human behavior is learned throughout the lifetime which is not instinctive.
It is only natural that human beings have always been fascinated in what makes them who they are and what characteristics of themselves set them apart from other people. Behaviorists on the other hand believe there is nothing more in where they grew up because their theory is human nature can be completely understood by the laws intrinsic in the innate environment. Psychologists influence one another and trigger theories for additional experimentation. Some psychologists do not care about other’s theories while some battle other’s theories. Not many scientists believe the behaviorist theory is as encompassing as it once was thought to be. One cannot completely dismiss the outcome the environment has on behavior neither the function it
The classic nature verse nurture debate has been rocking the boat in psychology since Socrates’ time. Skinner and behaviorists tend to lean much more towards the nurture side of this debate, believing that an individual’s behavior is a direct consequence of what that individual has experienced in the past, especially within the context of reinforcement and punishment. Because of this emphasis on nurture, genes and genetics do not play as much of a role as the experiences one receives after being born. The genes that one is born with gives the individual the genetic constitution that is capable of responding to external stimuli. If one has inherited genes that code for a more aggressive response to external stimuli, then that person may have a greater ability to be aggressive than one that lacks those
Debate over what makes up our psychological characteristivs and behaviors: our genes or our experiences
The classic nature verse nurture debate has been rocking the boat in psychology since Socrates’ time. Skinner and behaviorists tend to lean much more towards the nurture side of this debate, believing that an individual’s behavior is a direct consequence of what that individual has experienced in the past, especially within the context of reinforcement and punishment. Because of this emphasis on nurture, genes and genetics do not play as much of a role as the experiences one receives after being born. The genes that one is born with gives the individual the genetic constitution that is capable of responding to external stimuli. If one has inherited genes that code for a more aggressive response to external stimuli, then that person may have a greater ability to be aggressive
It has long been established that certain physical characteristics are biologically determined by genetic inheritance. Color of eyes, the texture and color of one’s hair, pigmentation of the skin and certain diseases are all a function of the genes we inherit. Other physical characteristics, if not determined, appear to be at least strongly influenced by the genetic make-up of our biological parents. Characteristics such as height, weight, hair loss, life expectancy and vulnerability to specific illnesses are positively correlated between genetically related individuals. These facts have led many to speculate as to whether psychological characteristics such as behavioral tendencies, personality attributes and mental abilities are also established in an individual before he is even