Nature vs. Nurture
Discuss how adoption and twin studies have influenced the nature versus nurture debate.
Due date: 2nd May 2013
Name: Veronica Pedersen
Student ID: S2858555
Tutor: Mr Riyad Rahimullah
Words: 1370
When determining and discussing the question “how adoption and twin studies have influenced the nature versus nurture debate” it is important to identify the key terms. The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing debate focusing on how much our environment (nurture) and our genes (nature) affect us as human beings. Twin studies (studies involving twins) help to determine the importance of environmental and genetic influences on individual traits and behaviours (Wright, 1997). Other groups that are useful in the studies of genetic similarity include full siblings and adoptees. In discussing how adoption and twin studies have influenced the nature versus nurture debate This paper intend to examine the terms and have a closer look on different adoption and twin studies. Showing how these studies both benefits the nature side and the nurture side of the discussion. This essay will argue for the importance in which the adoption and twin studies have had for the nature-nurture debate.
The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing one. The debate is a controversy about the effects of biology and social systems on individual’s behaviour. The “nature” side argues that people are shaped primarily by genetics and biology. The “nurture” side argues that our participation in social life is the most important determinate of who we are and how we behave (Moore, 2001). When trying to find the “answer” to why humans develop differently, adoption and twin studies is an excellent way of studying if it is nature or nurture that makes us who we are. The nature versus nurture debate has identified issues and by using this research, there is now a new view; it is not primarily our environment and the genetic structure that are responsible for our behaviour it is both.
Due date: 2nd May 2013
Name: Veronica Pedersen
Student ID: S2858555
Tutor: Mr Riyad Rahimullah
Words: 1370
When determining and discussing the question “how adoption and twin studies have influenced the nature versus nurture debate” it is important to identify the key terms. The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing debate focusing on how much our environment (nurture) and our genes (nature) affect us as human beings. Twin studies (studies involving twins) help to determine the importance of environmental and genetic influences on individual traits and behaviours (Wright, 1997). Other groups that are useful in the studies of genetic similarity include full siblings and adoptees. In discussing how adoption and twin studies have influenced the nature versus nurture debate This paper intend to examine the terms and have a closer look on different adoption and twin studies. Showing how these studies both benefits the nature side and the nurture side of the discussion. This essay will argue for the importance in which the adoption and twin studies have had for the nature-nurture debate.
The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing one. The debate is a controversy about the effects of biology and social systems on individual’s behaviour. The “nature” side argues that people are shaped primarily by genetics and biology. The “nurture” side argues that our participation in social life is the most important determinate of who we are and how we behave (Moore, 2001). When trying to find the “answer” to why humans develop differently, adoption and twin studies is an excellent way of studying if it is nature or nurture that makes us who we are. The nature versus nurture debate has identified issues and by using this research, there is now a new view; it is not primarily our environment and the genetic structure that are responsible for our behaviour it is both.
References: Bouchard, T., Jr. (1999). Genes, environment and personality. In S. Ceci & W. Williams (Eds.), The nature-nurture debate: The essential readings (pp. 98-103). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Cadoret, R. (1995). Adoption Studies. Alcohol Health and Research World, 19(3), 195-201. Heston, L. (1966). The British journal of psychiatry: Psychiatric disorders in foster home reared children of schizophrenic mothers. Retrieved from http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/112/489/819.short Hillman, K Howe, D. (1998). Heredity, environment and adoption outcomes. In Patterns of Adoption: Nature, Nurture and Psychosocial Developmental (pp. 118-133). London: Blackwell Science. Koepper-Schomerus, G., Stevenson, J. & Plomin, R. (2001). Genes and Environment in Asthma: A study of 4 year old Twins. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 85(5), 398-401. Moore, D. (2001). The dependent gene: The fallacy of Nature vs. Nurture. New York: Henry Holt and Company Plomin, R., DeFries, J Scarr, S & Weinberg, A. (1976). IQ test performance of Black children adopted by White families. American Psychologist, 31(10), 726-739. Doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.31.10.726 Turkheimer, E & Waldron, M Wright, L. (1997). The nature-nurture wars. In Twins: and what they tell us about who we are (pp.11-34). Brisbane: Wiley & Sons. Wright, L. (1997). The environment we make. In Twins: and what they tell us about who we are (pp.131-142). Brisbane: Wiley & Sons.