Unit 4 – Development through the Life stages
M1 – Discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual
The debate regarding nature and nurture has been going on for many years and is still unresolved. In this task I am going to discuss it and relate it to the celebrity which I have chosen.
Many psychologists argue about this debate and have different viewpoints in relation to it. One psychologist Plato argued for the nature side and believed that children are born with innate knowledge rather than learning new things, instead they recollect knowledge. Locke argued for the nature side and believed that people were born essentially blank (like a blackboard) and they ‘became’ who they were from the results of experiences during their lifetime.
The nature approach is the idea that what we inherit and our genes are what makes us the way we are and how we develop. Traits such as eye colour and hair colour are determined by genes along with abstract traits which are the encoded in DNA like intelligence, personality, aggression and sexual orientation. The nurture approach is the idea that the way we are brought up and our experiences are what makes us the way we are and how we develop.
An example of nurture would relate to Jennifer’s sexuality, Jennifer is heterosexual. According to nurture it means that her sexuality was influenced from going out with her friends and socialising with other people. In addition, it means Jennifer chose her sexuality and was not born with it but some people believe sexuality comes from your genes and this is nature. An argument for the nature/nature debate would be that if Jennifer’s brothers were gay she may consider herself to be too because she has been brought up around them but it could just be in her genes. Another way in which Jennifer may be nurtured to be gay is due to the environment she lives in and the people which she chooses to socialiase with.
An example of nature is Jennifer’s height. Jennifer is 5’5, her mother is 5’4 and her farther is 5’11. According to nature this means Jennifer’s height was influences by her genes, she didn’t have a choice as to how tall she wanted to be. An argument for the nature/nurture debate would be that if Jennifer has an inadequate diet as a child it could have stunted her growth due to malnutrition; this would be nurture as the food is from the environment. But in Jennifer’s case she is from a rich family
