The Debate Between Nature And Nurture - 1828 Words

The debate between nature and nurture is a â€Å"long-standing controversy over the relative contribution that gene and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors† (6, Myers). In this paper, one will examine both sides of the argument providing supportive historical thought provoking ideas by major influential figures. In conclusion, one will state one s position in regard to the issue. Nature as used in this context refers to the contribution of a person s genetic makeup to the development of his or her psychological traits and behaviors. In essence, it is the totality of what a person is born with, be it one s physical bodily matter or innate ideas. Here we shall first turn to the world of the ancients. Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher in his book entitled The Meno portrayal of Socrates, argues that knowledge, that is, all of human knowledge are innate. The soul according to Plato is endowed with complete knowledge of everything; after the death of the body, the soul transfers itself to a new corporeal body and forgets everything. Upon birth, knowledge is innate, but exists only at the latent level. In the dialogue, Socrates demonstrates this through the interrogation of one of Meno s slaves. Questioning the slave boy on geometric figure of a mathematical law which states that the square of the diagonal is double the square of the sides, the slave boy was able, on his own, to elicit or manifest the latent knowledge of theShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Between Nature Vs Nurture1697 Words   |  7 PagesWhat determines who you are or what you will become? The debate between nature versus nurture is trying to figure this out . According to â€Å"Essentials of Psychology†, Jeffrey S. Nevid (2012) Nature versus nurture is the debate about how genetics and nature determine our behavior. In other words, have your attitude, behavior and health problems developed because of how you were raised or who you came from. It is a debate that has stumped psychologists for centuries. The study of twins, both identicalRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Or Nurture874 Words   |  4 Pages Nature or Nurture. Nature may be all of the genes and hereditary factors with which influence them to become who they are such as physical appearances and personality characteristics. Nurturing impacts people’s lives as well as how they are raised and all the environmental factors. In combination, these qualities can be the true identity of oneself. Many people may argue that nurture appears to a play huge factor in the two, but others may think otherwise. Not having both as a characteristic canRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate878 Words   |  4 Pagespersonalities and traits produced by genetics or shaped by the environment? Or, is there a relationship between nature and nurture with regards to child development? The debate continues. While some believe â€Å"nature and nurture work together, others believe they are separate and opposing influences† (McDevitt, 2010). Nature vs Nurture In regards to the nature vs. nurture debate, â€Å"this debate is a major issue in many social science disciplines and is concerned with the influence that biology, geneticsRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Essay1612 Words   |  7 PagesNature vs. Nurture Essay Throughout many years, scientists have been debating about whether nature or nurture is the driving force that shapes a person’s cognitive abilities and personal traits. Before the ongoing debate can be explained, it is necessary to understand what nature and nurture actually are. Nature is loosely defined as the genetics one inherits and tendencies that influence development. Many things in an individual are hereditary, for instance; gender, disease, height, eye color,Read MoreThe Effect Of Environmental And Genetics On The Development Of A Person1000 Words   |  4 PagesOne of these oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the debate of whether or not ones environment or genetic background plays more of a role in the development of a person. Both nature and nurture have been proven to play an important role in one’s development. Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is general ly taken as the influence of external factors after conception e.g. the product of exposure, experienceRead MoreNature vs Nurture: Do Genes Or Environment Matter More? Essay936 Words   |  4 Pagesthere has been an on-going debate between nature and nurture. T.H. White, author of The Once and Future King, explores the debate through many of the book’s characters. The issue clearly appears in the relationship of Queen Morgause and her sons, the Orkney brothers. The debate caused people to pick a side, to pick nature over nurture, or nurture over nature. However, it does not have to be one or the other. Nature and nurture work together to determine who we are. Nature does not simply determineRead MoreJames Flynn s Creation Of The Flynn Effect925 Words   |  4 Pagesscores. Psychologists are currently still arguing whether intelligence is inherited or acquired. Nature is focuses more on genetics and hormones while. Nurture, on the other hand, focuses on external factors that have an influence on individuals. Regarding the intelligence debate in Psychology, the most important factor is nurture/environment. One piece of evidence that supports nurture in this debate is James Flynn’s creation of the Flynn effect. During the 1960s and 70s intelligence tests wereRead MoreHuman Behavior: Nature vs. Nurture Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Nature versus Nurture debate for decades. This debate is about the degree to which our environment and heredity, affects our behavior and developmental stages. According to this debate, nature can be described as, the behavior of a person is occurring because of their genetic makeup. Since the behavior of a person is due to their genetic makeup, then, it (nature) should also influence a person’s growth and development for the duration of their life. However, the nurture side of the debate saysRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 2017 Nature vs Nurture In today’s society, it has become common to question what exactly makes us human. There are many questions to ask that pertains to the idealism of mankind, but the most important would be, â€Å"what shapes us into who we are?† The debate of whether nature or nurture molds the character of our being has been an exhilarating question throughout the history of time. Though this matter is only answered through individual perception, with nature being genetics and nurture servingRead MoreEssay about Child Development, Nature vs Nurture801 Words   |  4 Pages. The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. The debate centers on the relative contributions ofgenetic inheritance  and  environmental factors  to human development. Some philosophers such as Plato and Descartes suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they simply occur naturally regardless of environmental influences. Other well-known thinkers such as John Locke believed in what is known as  tabula rasa, which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate