Nature vs. Nurture Argument

Psychology 101

March 3, 2013
Final Paper-
Nature vs. Nurture Argument

This paper is going to covers Nature verses Nurture argument. It will include the history and the essential characteristics. As well I will give you my view on the debate. Nature verses Nurture is an old ongoing disagreement over the comparative influences that genetic factors and involvement make to the growth of psychological characters and behaviors. Today’s science understands the characteristics and behaviors growing from dealings of Nature and Nurture. The argument whether we get our behaviors characteristic in life inherited from our parents through genes or whether we get them from our environment from the people around us (Myers, Psychology 10 Edition, 2013). This has been a classic controversy among experts for centuries. Throughout the history of the debate, there has been no clear conclusion to the dispute but, there are many hypotheses. Both sides of the controversy, named Nature and Nurture, have been explored thoroughly among researchers, and overwhelming evidence has been found in the favor of both hypotheses (Sincero, S. M. Sep 16, 201). The Nature side of the debate argues for the genetic view of the phenomenon of intelligence. It is based solely on what you are born with. That make us who we are, we do not have a say in the person we become. It is already in are genes who we are and who we will become. There is no way you can change the outcome of your life (Myers, Psychology 10 Edition, 2013; Sincero, S. M. Sep 16, 2012). The Nurture side of the debate argues that a person’s environment plays a large role in his mental aptitude. This may be the less obvious influential factor on one’s life. Though considering the enormous results of human’s surrounding and environment on the outcome of their life. They can chose who they want to be and not to be (Myers, Psychology 10 Edition, 2013; Sincero, S. M. Sep 16, 2012).
Before I talk about the Nature versus Nurture controversy, it is imperative to reference the scientist Francis Galton (1822-1911), a cousin of Charles Darwin. He started this entire argument between genes and environment. Galton made many significant contributions to both genetics and psychology. Most importantly, he was the most legendary explorer of human intelligences (Lewis, D June 19, 2000). Our genes, temperament, inheritance, culture and environment are all good and are essential for the argument of Nature versus Nurture. I do not see the importance of what proportion came from each. It is evident that we get our characteristics in various ways, both genetically and environmentally (Powell, K. Feb 02, 2013; Wayne April 21, 2012).
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century because of Darwin and Galton everyone was more on the Nature side of the argument. After World War one; 1920’s to 1930 people where more on the Nurture sided of the debate. From 1940’s to the present is when you find people are stuck in the middle and believe both have a factor in the dispute ( Lewis, D June 19, 2000).
I have found most people can not choose one over the other. In today’s culture most people believe that both of them play a factor in the way we live our life. I my opinion, I find the deciding factor is the way in which we are raised. I believe Nurture has a big influence in our way of living. I discovered if you are a person is raised by loving people, most often that person would what to emulate those people who influenced his life. It might be the person’s parents or someone else in life. I do not believe Nature determines who we are. Someone raised by an adopted family or born through in vitro fertilization people might not know his parents, let alone his genetic background. More often, this person’s behavioral is more like that parents who raised him. Oftentimes, people be raised by their parents might not always take have their behavior characteristics. There are many factors that make a person the person they become. People can choose their own behavior. For example, I choose to emulate many godly people and men and women as well as good friends in my life. In so doing, I am choosing to break many bad habits of my family and build new, healthy ones for myself. In the Bible, Romans 1:20 states, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse “(NIV).This verse is saying we have enough evidence to know that God does exist. The Bible has no clear view on this debate. As long as you are opened mined to the subject and do not deny Christ you can have your own view on the matter (McClure, R. Sr. Oct 25, 2008). I have examined the Christian point of view and the world point of view. I can not find a definitive answer to this long ongoing debate. In my research and asked the question of many people from various walks of life. I heard a variety of t answer to the question. I think there are a lot of different people and ways of life and there will never be a clear view of this debated. I believe this debate will continue to perplex people for a long time.

References
Lewis, D (June 19, 2000) A Sociopolitical-Historical Perspective of The Nature versus Nurture Debate, http://www.coedu.usf.edu/agents/dlewis/publications/naturevsnurture.htm
McClure, R. Sr. (Oct 25, 2008) No Excuse in Denying God- Nature vs. Nurture Debate, http://ezinearticles.com/?No-Excuse-in-Denying-God---Nature-vs-Nurture-Debate&id=1618176
Myers, D. G. (2013) Psychology 10th Edition, New York: Worth Publishers
Powell, K. (Feb 02, 2013) Nature vs. Nurture: Are We Really Born that Way?, About.com http://genealogy.about.com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/nature_nurture.htm
Sincero, S. M. (Sep 16, 2012) Nature and Nurture Debate, Retrieved Feb 07, 2013 from explorable.com. http://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate
Wayne (April 21, 2012) Nature vs. Nurture Argument?, http://wrhealthupdates.com/nature-vs-nurture-argument/
New International Versions Bible

References: Lewis, D (June 19, 2000) A Sociopolitical-Historical Perspective of The Nature versus Nurture Debate, http://www.coedu.usf.edu/agents/dlewis/publications/naturevsnurture.htm McClure, R. Sr. (Oct 25, 2008) No Excuse in Denying God- Nature vs. Nurture Debate, http://ezinearticles.com/?No-Excuse-in-Denying-God---Nature-vs-Nurture-Debate&id=1618176 Myers, D. G. (2013) Psychology 10th Edition, New York: Worth Publishers Powell, K. (Feb 02, 2013) Nature vs. Nurture: Are We Really Born that Way?, About.com http://genealogy.about.com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/nature_nurture.htm Sincero, S. M. (Sep 16, 2012) Nature and Nurture Debate, Retrieved Feb 07, 2013 from explorable.com. http://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate Wayne (April 21, 2012) Nature vs. Nurture Argument?, http://wrhealthupdates.com/nature-vs-nurture-argument/ New International Versions Bible