Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture

What is the Debate?

In the area of development the idea of whether a child’s development is determined more by nature aka genetics, or nurture aka the way in which the child is brought up. In this debate there are many proponents for both the side of nature and nurture. The people who side with the nature side of the debate with claim that all behavior, personality, and physical traits. Whereas the ones who side with nurture claim that the environment that people are brought up in is what determines the behavior and personality of people, and can even have an effect on certain physical traits.  This is a question that still looms over the heads of many scientist. The reason this is still such a large question is that the methods that were developed are many times inconclusive. Another reason this has become such a popular question that is asked is because many times people tend to give too much or too little responsibility to free will, and or genetics. However, at some level both of these things play a large role in the development of all humans. Many times even when we as humans think of certain characteristics that make up our body we believe them to be in our control in some way, but also out of our control in others. Other reasons this is such a hard questions to answer is the fact that it is hard to do experiments to humans. For example human babies cannot be taken from their human mothers to be raised by other mothers. With animals however this can be performed. So one of the biggest issue with this is the lack of experimentation that can be done.

Real Life Examples:

In this debate there are many arguments on both sides that can be considered very useful and very important in explaining the argument that each side has.

Nature	Nurture
1. Study Identical of Twins	1.Adoption
2. Breading Dogs	2.Study of Fraternal Twins
3.Adoption	3.Homosexuality
4.Homosexuality	4.Personality
5.Personality	5.Obesity

Each of these things can be used to explain and argue for both sides of the spectrum. For instance many people in the nature side believe homosexuality is an inherited trait, but many on the nurture side believe this comes about form how the Children were raised growing up. However, on major argument used by the nature side is the breeding of dogs. For many years and years dogs have been bread in such a way as to make the offspring have the desired behavior of the parent. One of the strongest arguments used on the side of nurture is the fact that if a child (who was born to English speaking parents) is adopted by a family (who is Spanish speaking) then the child will speak Spanish because that is what the child grew up hearing.

What is Learned?

There have been many things that have been learned recently about the nature of genes in the debate of nurture v. nature. For example, scientist learned that the closer in relation genetically people are the more they will have in common and share both in terms of behavior, genetics, and personality (NOBA). Despite knowing what they do know, scientist, understand that when talking about behavior one cannot rely merely on the idea of the environment playing the only role. Genetics need to be taken into consideration also, but neither can genetics be relied on solely for answers about behavior environment must also be taken into account. This is very important to understand. One cannot just blame the behaviors, personality, and or traits of a person on their genetics, and one can also not just blame these things on the person’s environment. Both of these things must be taken into consideration, and both given validity to help determine why and what people do.

Personal Application:

I work at Beltway Park Kids Club every day I get out of class. I have to deal with many different kids that come from many different backgrounds. Several times these kids have acted up and not always have been the best. I know that many of these kids do in fact come from broken homes. Which can play a major factor in the way in which these kids act. However, there background and home life is no excuse for this bad behavior. Taking into consideration how they were raised I can have a softer heart towards these Children because me being nice and kind to them might be the only kindness and love they get from their day. Yes genetics play a huge role in behavior, but so do environments. Because of this I can do all I can to make the environment they come to every day after school one of love and security to help the kids know they are loved and foster good behavior.

Sources:
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-5/twin-puppies-portrait-r-christopher-vest.jpg
https://mappingignorance.org/fx/media/2013/12/nature-vs-nurture.jpg
http://nobaproject.com/modules/the-nature-nurture-question
https://www.colorado.edu/ibg/