Free Essays on Nature Vs. Nurture

There is a continuing debate about the factors that contribute most strongly to human development. In sociology and psychology this debate centers on the nature vs. nature viewpoints of human development. Which argument is stronger? Let’s look at them both and see. If a person believes totally in the nurture theory, they argue that a newborn baby is a â€Å"tabula rosa,† (Latin term that means blank tablet). As such, onto this blank tablet, all values, behaviors, developmental processes, are written into the baby’s mind by the infant’s environment, and this is how we all learn. However, critics of the nurture theory argue that if you go to a hospital nursery viewing area, you will notice that each newborn is not the same as the others. Some of the babies will have their eyes open, and others will be asleep most of the time. Others will cry incessantly, yet another may have to be woken up just to get fed. These people conclude that there must be some genetics involved in personality development (Lewontin, Rose, & Kamin 1984). Where the argument gets tricky is that some research has demonstrated that genetic factors are generally more important in such characteristics as intelligence or temperament, and less important in determining values, ideals and beliefs (Washburn 194). However, most recent research has led social scientists to hold the opinion that there is an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. What this means is that heredity determines a number of possible behavioral outcomes, but the environment ultimately determines the behavior. How does the nature vs. nurture controversy apply specifically to sociology? There are numerous areas regarding socialization and social development where this question still remains. In the past, social scientists have learned very heavily on the side of the nurture viewpoint in the debate. According to this view, what humans do has been explained by social environment, le... Free Essays on Nature Vs. Nurture Free Essays on Nature Vs. Nurture Nature vs. Nurture There is and has always been a large controversy over whether inherited genes or the environment influences and effects our personality, development, behavior, intelligence and ability. This controversy is most often recognized as the nature verses nurture conflict. Some people believe that it is strictly genes that affect our ways of life, others believe that it is the environment that affects us, and some believe that both of these influence our behavior. Either way, social scientists have been struggling for centuries deciding whether our personalities are born or made. Tests are done often on identical twins that were separated to see how they are each influenced by their separate environments. In the past twenty years, it has been discovered that there is a genetic component to every human trait and behavior. However, genetic influence on traits and behavior is partial because genetics account on average for half of the variation of most traits. Urie Bronfrenbrenner, who studies genetics, said, "It is not nature vs. nurture, but the interaction of nature and nurture that drives development. "Researchers are finding that the balance between genetic and environmental influences for certain traits change as people get older. Also, people may react to us in a certain way because of a genetically influenced personality and, we may choose certain experiences because they fit best with our instinctive preferences. This means that our experiences may be influenced by our genetic tendencies. One way researchers study the development of traits and behaviors is by measuring the influence of genetics through out ones life span, and it is found to be that the genetic influence on cert ain trait increase as people age. A research was done to see whether a trait would show up in a child if it was environmentally influenced or genetically influenced. A child was given more negative attention than another was, and it incr... Free Essays on Nature Vs. Nurture Nature vs. Nurture Nature is a fairly specific term. It refers to genetic material that controls one’s appearance, temperaments, and abilities. These are a preset list that cannot be altered and is inherited from the mother and father. This can include things such as eye color, height, ability to do math or learn a language, patience or temper and many, many more. Some of these things such as temper are debated as to whether or not they are part of your internal nature, which makes nature versus nurture an even more complex debate. One of the earliest signs of genes showing through is the first emotions. Only hours after being born, babies in the nursery will feel sympathy and empathy for each other and when one starts to cry, others start to cry too. They are not taught to do this, they have only barely had contact with adults, it’s just natural. Emotions are basically pre-programmed. Everyone is born with the genetic ability to express emotions of a large variety from joy to rage to fea r, but they have to be in a situation that brings them out. For example, a baby will not experience rage randomly. It would probably occur later in life when the child is older and he or she gets in an argument. All people are born with their own genetic makeup. Some have more athletic ability than others, some are better students than others or some are more evil than others. Curtain things come naturally for curtain people which is why people are so unique. If some try to kill because its natural for them should people see, "They are just trying to find themselves". No, every man has free will so they need to make a choice. If every person has their own genetic problems, but have free will, doesn’t that still give them the ability to make their own conscience decision for their actions? Yes, every person has a conscience so they can’t use the excuse, that didn’t know it was wrong. People have been trying this excuse for ... Free Essays on Nature Vs. Nurture There is a continuing debate about the factors that contribute most strongly to human development. In sociology and psychology this debate centers on the nature vs. nature viewpoints of human development. Which argument is stronger? Let’s look at them both and see. If a person believes totally in the nurture theory, they argue that a newborn baby is a â€Å"tabula rosa,† (Latin term that means blank tablet). As such, onto this blank tablet, all values, behaviors, developmental processes, are written into the baby’s mind by the infant’s environment, and this is how we all learn. However, critics of the nurture theory argue that if you go to a hospital nursery viewing area, you will notice that each newborn is not the same as the others. Some of the babies will have their eyes open, and others will be asleep most of the time. Others will cry incessantly, yet another may have to be woken up just to get fed. These people conclude that there must be some genetics involved in personality development (Lewontin, Rose, & Kamin 1984). Where the argument gets tricky is that some research has demonstrated that genetic factors are generally more important in such characteristics as intelligence or temperament, and less important in determining values, ideals and beliefs (Washburn 194). However, most recent research has led social scientists to hold the opinion that there is an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. What this means is that heredity determines a number of possible behavioral outcomes, but the environment ultimately determines the behavior. How does the nature vs. nurture controversy apply specifically to sociology? There are numerous areas regarding socialization and social development where this question still remains. In the past, social scientists have learned very heavily on the side of the nurture viewpoint in the debate. According to this view, what humans do has been explained by social environment, le...