Nature Vs Nurture Debate
Looking at this question from the nature perspective, one would argue that an organism’s genes influence these processes. Natural human behavior is seen as the result of already-present biological factors, such as genetic code. On the other hand, someone looking at it from a nurture perspective would argue that these processes are acquired through interaction with the environment. Nurtured human behavior is seen as the result of environmental interaction, which can provoke changes in brain structure and chemistry.
The nature vs. nurture debate seeks to understand how our personalities and traits are produced by our genetic makeup and biological factors, and how they are shaped by our environment, including our parents, peers, social interactions
and culture. For instance, why do biological children sometimes act like their parents? Is it because of genetic similarity, or the result of the early childhood environment and what children learn from their parents?
Collins, Maccoby, Steinberg, Hetherington, & Bornstein (2000) conducted a research on parental influence. However, there is very little evidence that parents can influence behavior and personality in adolescence and adulthood (Harris, 1995, 1998; Rowe, 1994). Therefore, parents can influence their children’s behavior and personality, but they are not the only influential factor.
The heredity and environment of an organism can be completely separated only in analytic thinking, for in actual nature such separation would lead to instant death of the organism, even though the philosopher making the analysis might himself survive. (Gesell & Thompson, 1934, p. 293)
According to Gesell and Thompson (1934), one cannot look at these two factors (nature and nurture) separately when looking into individuals because they, to some degree, influence and affect one another.
After years of debating whether the answer is nature or nurture the most popular answer today is both. Nature and nurture to some degree affect us. Environmental inputs can affect the expression of genes, a relationship called gene-environment interaction. Genes and the environment work together, communicating back and forth to create traits. Some concrete behavioral traits are dependent upon one's environment, home, or culture, such as the language one speaks, the religion one practices, and the political party one supports. However, some traits that reflect underlying talents and temperaments can be partially heritable
The nature vs. nurture debate seeks to understand how our personalities and traits are produced by our genetic makeup and biological factors, and how they are shaped by our environment, including our parents, peers, social interactions
and culture. For instance, why do biological children sometimes act like their parents? Is it because of genetic similarity, or the result of the early childhood environment and what children learn from their parents?
Collins, Maccoby, Steinberg, Hetherington, & Bornstein (2000) conducted a research on parental influence. However, there is very little evidence that parents can influence behavior and personality in adolescence and adulthood (Harris, 1995, 1998; Rowe, 1994). Therefore, parents can influence their children’s behavior and personality, but they are not the only influential factor.
The heredity and environment of an organism can be completely separated only in analytic thinking, for in actual nature such separation would lead to instant death of the organism, even though the philosopher making the analysis might himself survive. (Gesell & Thompson, 1934, p. 293)
According to Gesell and Thompson (1934), one cannot look at these two factors (nature and nurture) separately when looking into individuals because they, to some degree, influence and affect one another.
After years of debating whether the answer is nature or nurture the most popular answer today is both. Nature and nurture to some degree affect us. Environmental inputs can affect the expression of genes, a relationship called gene-environment interaction. Genes and the environment work together, communicating back and forth to create traits. Some concrete behavioral traits are dependent upon one's environment, home, or culture, such as the language one speaks, the religion one practices, and the political party one supports. However, some traits that reflect underlying talents and temperaments can be partially heritable