Nature Vs Nurture
Over the last decade, a debate in childhood development is taking place between nature and nurture. The underlying question of the debate is, whether nature or nurture is more important in determining child development. However, Rutter, Moffitt, and Caspi (2006) claimed that the issue is not nature versus nurture, but rather nature and nurture because both are important, which suggests that the way forward is to develop strategies that bring nature and nurture together to help us understand the development of complex traits. In fact, many psychologists have agreed upon that both nature and nurture do have an impact on childhood development (Moshman, Glover & Bruning, 1987). Over 90% of parents and teachers of young children believe that nature is as important as nurture in the development of a wide range of behavioral traits, including intelligence, learning disabilities, personality and mental illness (Walker & Plomin, 2005). In general, nature thinks of as influencing by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Children inherit a combined trait from
…show more content…
their parents, sharing certain genotype and phenotype from both of the parents (Mange & Mange, 1990). Nature is responsible for the growth of a person from the fetus level until development into a normal adult. The different traits that people have are determined by the coding of genes in each cell in humans. Physical attributes like eye color, hair color, ear size, height, and other traits are all a function of the genes people inherit. Geneticists hold the notion that nature plays an important role in the development of the child. In the study of development, nature refers to the genetic or inherited characteristics and tendencies that influence development (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2007). Since genetic materials are passed down from parents to their offspring, the children will somehow share slightly similar pattern of thoughts, emotions and behavior as their parents (Carducci, 2009). Hence, this creates a diversity of mankind in which different people with different personality and behavior.
Genetic characteristics and tendencies are not always evident at birth. This means that nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world in which nature consists of every influence from without that affects a person after his birth (Galton, 1874). Nature can only assist in the growth of a fetus into a normal well-developed adult who may have inherited some special talents. Moreover, many physical features emerge gradually through the process of maturation, the genetically guided changes that occur over the course of development (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2007). Characteristics and differences that are not observable at birth but which emerge later in life are regarded as the product of maturation. Indeed, nature development needs to be support by environmental aspect such as food, reasonably safe and toxin-free surroundings. In other words, nature never works alone because nurture, the environmental conditions also influence the development. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors, such as parenting, experience and learning on an individual. The environment has always played an important role in the personality and behavior development of children. Environmental factors involve many dimensions. They include both physical environments and social environments. With good environmental support, children thrive. Nurture does not especially consist of food, clothing, education, or tradition, but it includes all these and similar influences whether known or unknown (Galton, 1874).
Greenough, Black and Wallace (1987) determined two different neural pathways in newborns. The first, the experience-expectant system contains all the functions that a newborn needs to be able to survive its early life, including sucking, breathing and temperature regulation. These are present due to genetic programming. The second, the experience-dependant system is dormant at birth but develops and strengthens as learning and experience takes hold. This evidence makes a convincing argument for the influence of genetic and environmental influence on the development of a child. In many other developmental areas, children may be most receptive to a certain type of stimulation at one point in their lives but be able to benefit from it to some degree later as well. In the introductory case study, Tonya may have encountered only limited exposure to language as a consequence of her mother’s weakened condition. Tonya would have a second chance to expand her verbal talents later immersed in a rich verbal environment. Thus educational experiences at a later time can often make up for experiences missed at an earlier period (Bruer, 1999). Many theorists use the term sensitive period when referring to such a long time frame of heightened sensitivity to particular environmental experiences.
Several recent studies investigating nature and nurture have been carried out on child development.
As discussed by McDevitt and Ormrod (2007), many theorists saw nature and nurture as separate and rival factors from the past study. Some theorists believed that biological factors are ultimately responsible for growth. Other theorists assumed that children become whatever the environment shapes them to be. Increasingly, developmental theorists have come to realize that nature and nurture are both important and that they intermesh dynamically in the lives of children. On the other hand, much genetic research has examined the normal distribution of individual differences for a wide range of behavioral traits such as cognitive abilities and personality (Plomin et al., 2013). Genetic research has also addressed the low end of performance such as cognitive and learning disabilities, especially reading
disability.
Apart from that, new research by Holden (2010) states that parental guidance must be added in child development. Parental guidance can have intense effect on how a child develops and function as an adult. Plomin and Spinath (2004) state that children inherit lots of traits and look from their parents and as a result the children will turn out to be a combination of the behavior trait and personality of the parents. However, Holden (2010) claimed that child development researchers largely have ignored the importance of parental guidance. Through selecting the environment that children are exposed to, parents determine how children develop, thereby influencing the direction of personal development (Holden, 2010). What is more, many parents are in the stress of coming to terms with being new parents, sometimes forget that every single interaction they have with a young child leaves its mark. With the increasingly busy schedules, parents are spending limited time with their children. The result would be having impacts on aspects of their development such as character. In conclusion, early childhood development is essential for the normal growth of any child. The most critical part of any development of child is the development period. The early childhood development of the child is a crucial determinant of whom and how the child will end up being in future. Both nature and nurture are both important in the growth and early development of the child. Events and situations that occur in the early childhood can affect the child for child’s lifetime. Nurture plays an important role in the development of the brain as well. Nature and nurture cannot be separated from each other with relation to development of the child. Children must therefore have stable, responsive, nurturing relationships and rich experiences early in their lifetime so as to have long term and lifelong benefits for learning behavior and for the growth of both physical and mental health (Slentz, & Krogh, 2001).
their parents, sharing certain genotype and phenotype from both of the parents (Mange & Mange, 1990). Nature is responsible for the growth of a person from the fetus level until development into a normal adult. The different traits that people have are determined by the coding of genes in each cell in humans. Physical attributes like eye color, hair color, ear size, height, and other traits are all a function of the genes people inherit. Geneticists hold the notion that nature plays an important role in the development of the child. In the study of development, nature refers to the genetic or inherited characteristics and tendencies that influence development (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2007). Since genetic materials are passed down from parents to their offspring, the children will somehow share slightly similar pattern of thoughts, emotions and behavior as their parents (Carducci, 2009). Hence, this creates a diversity of mankind in which different people with different personality and behavior.
Genetic characteristics and tendencies are not always evident at birth. This means that nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world in which nature consists of every influence from without that affects a person after his birth (Galton, 1874). Nature can only assist in the growth of a fetus into a normal well-developed adult who may have inherited some special talents. Moreover, many physical features emerge gradually through the process of maturation, the genetically guided changes that occur over the course of development (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2007). Characteristics and differences that are not observable at birth but which emerge later in life are regarded as the product of maturation. Indeed, nature development needs to be support by environmental aspect such as food, reasonably safe and toxin-free surroundings. In other words, nature never works alone because nurture, the environmental conditions also influence the development. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors, such as parenting, experience and learning on an individual. The environment has always played an important role in the personality and behavior development of children. Environmental factors involve many dimensions. They include both physical environments and social environments. With good environmental support, children thrive. Nurture does not especially consist of food, clothing, education, or tradition, but it includes all these and similar influences whether known or unknown (Galton, 1874).
Greenough, Black and Wallace (1987) determined two different neural pathways in newborns. The first, the experience-expectant system contains all the functions that a newborn needs to be able to survive its early life, including sucking, breathing and temperature regulation. These are present due to genetic programming. The second, the experience-dependant system is dormant at birth but develops and strengthens as learning and experience takes hold. This evidence makes a convincing argument for the influence of genetic and environmental influence on the development of a child. In many other developmental areas, children may be most receptive to a certain type of stimulation at one point in their lives but be able to benefit from it to some degree later as well. In the introductory case study, Tonya may have encountered only limited exposure to language as a consequence of her mother’s weakened condition. Tonya would have a second chance to expand her verbal talents later immersed in a rich verbal environment. Thus educational experiences at a later time can often make up for experiences missed at an earlier period (Bruer, 1999). Many theorists use the term sensitive period when referring to such a long time frame of heightened sensitivity to particular environmental experiences.
Several recent studies investigating nature and nurture have been carried out on child development.
As discussed by McDevitt and Ormrod (2007), many theorists saw nature and nurture as separate and rival factors from the past study. Some theorists believed that biological factors are ultimately responsible for growth. Other theorists assumed that children become whatever the environment shapes them to be. Increasingly, developmental theorists have come to realize that nature and nurture are both important and that they intermesh dynamically in the lives of children. On the other hand, much genetic research has examined the normal distribution of individual differences for a wide range of behavioral traits such as cognitive abilities and personality (Plomin et al., 2013). Genetic research has also addressed the low end of performance such as cognitive and learning disabilities, especially reading
disability.
Apart from that, new research by Holden (2010) states that parental guidance must be added in child development. Parental guidance can have intense effect on how a child develops and function as an adult. Plomin and Spinath (2004) state that children inherit lots of traits and look from their parents and as a result the children will turn out to be a combination of the behavior trait and personality of the parents. However, Holden (2010) claimed that child development researchers largely have ignored the importance of parental guidance. Through selecting the environment that children are exposed to, parents determine how children develop, thereby influencing the direction of personal development (Holden, 2010). What is more, many parents are in the stress of coming to terms with being new parents, sometimes forget that every single interaction they have with a young child leaves its mark. With the increasingly busy schedules, parents are spending limited time with their children. The result would be having impacts on aspects of their development such as character. In conclusion, early childhood development is essential for the normal growth of any child. The most critical part of any development of child is the development period. The early childhood development of the child is a crucial determinant of whom and how the child will end up being in future. Both nature and nurture are both important in the growth and early development of the child. Events and situations that occur in the early childhood can affect the child for child’s lifetime. Nurture plays an important role in the development of the brain as well. Nature and nurture cannot be separated from each other with relation to development of the child. Children must therefore have stable, responsive, nurturing relationships and rich experiences early in their lifetime so as to have long term and lifelong benefits for learning behavior and for the growth of both physical and mental health (Slentz, & Krogh, 2001).