Nature vs Nurture Essays

Submitted By Duraan
Words: 1057
Pages: 5
Open Document
Hinika 1

Duraan Hinika
Psych 24
Professor Bhadha
10/9/14

Does nature or nurture play a greater role in development?
One of the most debated and argued subjects in psychology is the nature versus nurture debate.
Nature is the idea that we are most influenced by our genetic influences, and our inherited genes.
While on the other hand nurture refers to all the environmental influences that we receive.
Author Robert H. Wozniak says “The route through childhood is shaped by many forces, and it differs for each of us. Our biological inheritance, the temperament with which we are born, the care we receive, our family relationships, the place where we grow up, the schools we attend, the culture in which we participate, and the historical period in we live­­all these affect the paths we take through childhood and condition the remainder of our lives.” These factors tie in to the nature aspect. Nature and nurture both play a significant role in our lives. Some may believe that nurture plays a greater role in our development, but I believe that nature plays a slightly more important factor than nurture in our development.
Family psychiatrist, Stanley Turecki writes “Nature, we are starting to realize, is every bit as important as nurture. Genetic influences, brain chemistry, and neurological development contribute strongly to who we are as children and what we become as adults. A couple examples that could be relevant to back up what is said in this quote are examples of leadership qualities and risk taking. When we first enter this world, we do not automatically learn factors in life from

Hinika 2

our environmental influences. Our environmental influences are not always the best thing for us to lean on, because the environment that we live in is chaotic, and trying to learn from our environmental influences will not better us as a person. That is when the nature aspect of things comes into play.
As said above, nature is the idea that we are most influenced by our genetic influences, and our inherited genes. Some of the most important factors of our genetic influences are the relationships we have with family members and the care that we receive. I firmly believe that nature is more important than nurture because the majority of the time your family will look out for your best interest, and will teach you what you need to know to be successful in this life, and family fits into the idea of nature. On the other hand nurture, our environment, does not really care about each individual's best interest, it just provides the tools to be successful but does not give us a direction in which to take. Another reason that I believe that genetic influences overpower our environmental influences is because our genetic influences usually provide love, support, security, identity, and values to an individual. As individuals we gain all genetic influences from family members. Our family teaches us about what is right wrong wrong, not only in the family aspect of things but also in life. Our families also give us a sense of consistency and security. An oregon based psychologist and teacher, Jennifer Little says “Family life is where the child spends most of his or her learning time.” Another factor that families usually provide in a persons life is coping skills. Our families, more specifically our parents show us how to handle different situations in life by them reacting to different situations themselves. An example of this is what Will Smith said in an interview conducted by Oprah
Winfrey back in 2013, Oprah Winfrey interviewed Will Smith and his family in 2013 and Smith

Hinika 3

says “How you interact with people, how you talk, how you deal with stress, those things are where the lessons come from.” In general family members provide countless learning experiences in our life that would better us as a person. If we were to mess up in our family environment most of the time family members
Show More

Related Documents: Nature vs Nurture Essays

Nature Vs Nurture

The question of nature vs nurture in psychology is a question that humanity’s greatest minds have been debating for millennia. From Plato who believes in nature, against Aristotle who argued for nurture. To as recently as today where scientists are still trying to figure out the answer with no prevail. (Nature vs Nurture) The basic premise of this debate is whether the mind is influenced by the world around it or is already predetermined. In other words, certain people believe that the mind is a…

Words 1179 - Pages 5

Nature Vs Nurture

and what is taught to us. We are taught by our parents, by our teachers, by grandparents, by siblings, friends, ect.. but ultimately a parents wants there child to grow up knowing they taught them to do what was right and wrong. This is where Nature vs. Nurture come into play this is where we learn ones interest and abilities such as creativity, social skills, problem-solving ability, and so forth. Parents are the keys to intellectual development for almost all children in the care and education…

Words 599 - Pages 3

Nature Vs Nurture

Some say that behavior results from nature, or one’s own genes, while others say that behavior results from nurture, or the environment. People are aware that both nature and nurture influence how humans live and think but exactly how much of human traits are determined by either nature and nurture remains unknown. Scientists may seem more engaged in the nature theory because of the biology and chemistry involved. This in turn leads to further research in the nature field. On the other hand, psychologists…

Words 1001 - Pages 5

Nature vs. Nurture Essay

Nature vs Nurture: Do You Choose Your Sexuality, Or Is It Genetic? The nature vs. nurture debate is one of the most enduring in the field of psychology because of the many different topics that can be attained in this single field. Psychologist have thought and asked questions of how far are human behaviors, ideas, and feeling, innate and how far are they all learned? These issues are at the center of the ongoing nature versus nurture controversy. The French philosopher Rene Descartes suggested…

Words 1083 - Pages 5

Essay on Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture The dubious history of the heredity environment controversy can be easily traced as far back as the start of the present century with at least some historical evidence placing the roots of this dispute in the time of John Locke. This controversy has continued despite continual reiteration that the critical question is not how much of a trait is due to heredity and how much is due to environment, but rather how environment transact to influence development." ( Wachs ,…

Words 2492 - Pages 10

Nature Vs Nurture

In psychology, there are two main point of views when analysing the brain. The two main points are nature and nurture. Nurture is the theory that a person's behavior is determined in the womb. While, nature is the theory that your behavior is determined by your experience or environment. On May 21, 1960, Jeffrey Dahmer was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, raised by disheveled parents, Lionel and Joyce Dahmer. He was known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, an American serial killer and sex offender, who committed…

Words 264 - Pages 2

Nature Vs Nurture

do a person environment control them or is their fate destined throughout their genes? The concept of nature versus nurture is a debate on whether a person behavior is based on the environment or do genes influence a person behavior. Nature is the behavior influenced by the gene. Nurture is based on how a person was raised. A person being born good or bad is one example of nature versus nurture. In my opinion, I think a person environment cannot play a part on whether or not a person is good or…

Words 160 - Pages 1

Nature Vs Nurture Debate

Debate on the Nature Versus Nurture controversy dates back to 1869 when the phrase was first conceived by Francis Galton, a man who had wide-ranging knowledge. Galton began to investigate further on the nature versus nurture debate when his half-cousin, Charles Darwin, publicized On the Origin of Species, where Darwin first began his study on the theory of evolution. Intrigued by Darwin’s theories and ideas, Galton publicized two books exploring inheritance, and evolution of traits. Since Galton…

Words 677 - Pages 3

Mcleod Nature Vs Nurture

thought nurture is important. In the article “Nature vs Nurture in Psychology” Saul Mcleod reports that the debate of the influence between nature and nurture. Mcleod claims that some nativists believe genetic factors control our physical characteristic and behavior. And empiricists believe that human’s development and behavior influenced by environment. Also she describes that there a controversy between whether “ genius” is from nature or nurture. In brief, the author states that nature and nurture…

Words 996 - Pages 4

Nature Vs Nurture

personality? Some say that your personality and actions are based on genetics, and others say it is based on how you were raised, media, and other things in society. Nature versus nurture is a very big debate amongst scientists and people in general. Personally, I believe that both of these take part in your personality and behavior. Nature would be your genetics, and nurturing factors would be your family and how you were raised, your friends and the people that you hang out with, and the media such…

Words 1169 - Pages 5