Nature Vs Nurture Debate Essay
The nature versus nurture debate has been around for centuries. It is the argument over whether heredity or the environment has the most impact on human psychological development. In the debate nature refers to human’s genotypes, the set of genes inherited from parents. Nurture refers to environment factors an individual is exposed to over time. A phenotype refers to the characteristics resulting from interaction of a genotype with the environment (Carter 192). Generally, psychologists argue that who we are is predetermined by our DNA. While sociologists and social and behavioral scientists argue that it is external factors such as environment that shapes who people are. However, because of numerous evidence for human traits being each inherited and learned, the nature versus nurture debate has shifted from
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one or the other to how much of each looking into what goes into forming who people are. Nature and nurture work coherently to develop human traits which can be specifically demonstrated in intelligence, athletics, and musical talent.
1. Various Arguments
Over the years the nature versus nurture debate has not disappeared. There are still many disagreements over where traits come from. Those with an extreme hereditary view are known as nativists. Their position is that characteristics are due to each person’s genetic code. Those with the opposite view are known as empiricists. They believe that at birth our mind is a blank slate, and that we are shaped purely by experience. However, hardly anyone holds either of these extreme positions anymore (McLeod). But there are still some people who refuse to attribute behavior influence to DNA as opposed to the environment and free will. Social and behavioral scientists also have doubts about the influence of DNA (Robinson). But today the majority of scientists agree that due to overwhelming evidence for both nature and nurture “it is now clear that DNA is both inherited and environmentally responsive” (Robinson).
According to Professor John Baldwin at the University of Santa Barbra, previous arguments over nature versus nurture are too simplistic. Trying to trace certain behaviors back to only nature or nurture is too one sided. These views “fail to grasp the rich complexities of human behavior” (Baldwin). Scientists today see the two forces of nature and nurture as fundamentally intertwined (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia). Once it is decided that nature and nurture are the two factors that affect the way the brain functions the question becomes about how they work together.
2. How Nature and Nurture Work Together
According to the US Institute of medicine genes and the environment each have specific roles to play in order to shape who people are. Nature and nurture are a “complex interplay of many factors”. Determining how genes and the environment impact us is not as simple as saying a certain gene produces a certain behavior. Or as simple as saying a certain environmental factor produces a certain behavior. It is actually the result of the gene being affected directly and indirectly which influence variants in behavior. These variants in behavior are what produces individuality (Institute of Medicine). More specifically, genes play a role in the brain by affecting neurotransmitters, which influence the brains complex functions such as personality, memory, and intelligence. However, neurotransmitters also affect gene expression which is shaped by environmental influence. So, brain function is then also dependent on external factors such as diet or geography (Carter 192).
3. Research Used in Nature Nurture Debate Common research that test how nature and nurture affect us is by using twins. Identical twins provide some of the best data because they have identical hereditary information, so any differences in traits show the effects of environment (Klissouras 2). According to The Brain Book studies of twins who have been separated at birth still show similar traits in terms of interest, personality, and attitude (Carter 193). The twins are more similar than chance would allow showing the effects of nature. However, it cannot solely be nature because the twins still showed numerous differences. The similarities of the twins show the very powerful influence that genes play in the brain, but also the role environment plays. Another way researchers test the effects of nature and nurture is with adoption studies. In which researchers look at similarities between the adoptive children and their biological and adoptive families. Adoptive children are good subjects because they provide an easy way to see the effects of both nature and nurture on them. The similarities between the kids and their biological families show heritability, while the similarities between the kids and their adoptive families shoe the influence of the environment.
4. Individual Traits
The way nature and nurture work together can be shown in individual traits. Different traits vary under how they are affected by hereditary and environmental conditions. The textbook Experience Human Development uses the term range reactions to help explain how exactly nature and nurture work together. Range reaction is a range of potential expressions for a hereditary trait. Then, hereditary can influence how wide or narrow a range reaction is (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia). For example, body size has a larger range reaction than height because genes for body size allow a wide size range depending on factors such as nutrition and the types of food available in their society while height has strict genetic limits. Traits with an extremely narrow range of reaction are referred to as canalized. A good example is eye color which is strongly programmed by genes and allows very little opportunity for variance. So it is referred to as highly canalized (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia).
Looking at traits with a wide range reaction, such as intelligence, athleticism, or musical talent can show the role each nature and nurture has to play. There are obviously some people who are genetically better suited to become athletes or musicians. Likewise there are some people who are who genetically gifted with high IQs. Professor John Baldwin at the University of Santa Barbra comments on these genetic traits “you may a have a complex mix of all sorts of genetic potentials for excellence in various aspects of human life. That does not mean that you will automatically develop those potentials: it merely show you have a genetic possibility for outstanding development” (Baldwin).
4.1 Intelligence
Intelligence is an example of a trait that is both affected by genes and the environment. Genes and the environment work together from birth to produce a person’s intelligence level. Genes play a big role in intelligence. According to a Boundless Psychology textbook, “Intelligence is thought to be up to 80% heritable in adult humans” (Boundless). However even with such a high level of inherited intelligence the environment still has a big impact on intelligence. In fact, Dave Phoenix states in the Journal of Biological Education “I feel that one must conclude that there are many people of high intelligence who have not realized their potential to due environmental factors” (Phoenix). Environments role in intelligence is determining is the inherited traits for intelligence are fully developed.
Biological influences, things like nutrition and stress, affect intelligence from the prenatal stage on. Nutrition has a big effect on intelligence. According to Boundless Psychology, “Proper nutrition is especially critical in the early stages of life, as it establishes a base-line for further intellectual development. Malnutrition can disrupt neural connections and pathways, and leave a person unable to recover mentally” (Boundless). Stress is another big factor; too much stress can put irreversible damage on human development. There are also sociocultural influences, things like the influence of a family unit. Home life can play a big role on children’s intelligence. Other factors that can effect intelligence are things like access to an education, training, and various resources. These things all play a role in life long intelligence (Boundless). Biological and sociocultural influences as well as genetics shape human intelligence. 4.2 Musical Talent
In the same way that intelligence is both inherited and learned musical ability is as well. Some people have genotypes that give them a distinct genetic advantage in developing musical talent. Judy Judge in the article "Musical Talent: Born Genius?" looks at the development of child prodigies. She states that there is something called the “natural potential to achieve” which includes all the intellectual skills and abilities needed to become a musician. When looking at child prodigies some common characteristics were discovered including well developed sensory, motor, and visual skills, imagination, good reflexes, and coordination (Judge). These skills called the “natural potential to succeed” seem to indicate that part of musical ability must be inherited by certain genotypes passed on. Furthermore, many parents of musically talented children reported that their children learned extremely quickly. Some of the kids with little to no practice (Judge). The fact that these kids could were able to learn with little or no practice points to certain genes that gifted them to succeed.
However, musical ability cannot simply be inherited because if you are not raised in an environment that values music and you never pursue music than your potential for musical talent would never be realized regardless of a “natural potential to succeed”. There are many factors which go into developing talent including encouragement, high levels of practice, and cultural and family values in music (Judge). All of these factors point to an environmental influence as well. Therefore environment and genes must both play a role in the trait for musical talent.
4.3 Athletic Ability
Athletic ability is another good example of a trait being both inherited and learned. There are many areas of physical performance which are affected by genes. Some people have been gifted with genes that make them natural athletes. This is because there are certain genes and certain physical qualities that give some people a distinct athletic advantage. For example, there is a gene for insulin-like growth factor. This genes influences an athlete’s muscle mass and aids in activities such as sprinting (Brain Book). There are numerous other genes which affect physical performance as well. But athleticism is not only affected by genes, the environment plays a role as well.
It is as the Brain Book points out “Although most successful sprinters share a genetic advantage, the right genes alone are not enough. Athletes have to train hard and have a desire to win if they are to become champions” (Brain Book). So, some parts of athleticism are inherited by genes but that alone is not enough to become a successful athlete. In order to become a good athlete a lot of practice is required. Athletes can also be affected by a number of factors including culture, parents, and coaches. Culture affects the types of sports or activities people are likely to purse. For example America places a lot of focus on football, while Mexico places focus more on soccer. So, cultural values might sway opinions on which type of sport or activity people want to pursue. Parents and coaches play a big role as well. They can either encourage athletes to grow and develop their skills. Or, they can also have a negative influence and turn athletes away from a sport. Becoming an athlete requires a lot of work and athleticism is both heavily influenced by genes and the
environment.
5. Benefits of Studying Nature and Nurture
Questions about how biology and experience shape our brains are very recent. The have been around less than five years (Institute of Medicine). The new research of how nature and nurture work together can have a big impact in the world. The knowledge can be beneficial to teachers and parents.
Knowledge of where traits come from can be beneficial to teachers. Studies on what affects children’s learning and intelligence can help teachers and parents provide proper information on how to properly encourage and teach kids so they are able to reach their full being both inherited and learned, “such work is of importance if children are to maximize their development and provide a rich resource for society in later life” (Phoenix). He goes on to say that “if we agree that intellectual attainment is a combination of both ability and effort, then students can be encouraged to maximize their effort by considering obvious factors, such as staff attitude on self-perception”(Phoenix). This presents one of the main benefits of looking into how genes and nature affect us. The information can guide parents and teachers how to best instruct kids to develop their potential for favorable traits, such as intelligence. It could provide information on how to make sure there is no over looked potential in children. Julia Glass in her article “Nature vs. Nurture” discusses the impact her research on the nature nurture debate had on how she raised her kids. From the research she said it was made clear that she does not have the power to change her children’s genes or to be the only influence in their lives. But, she has learned that she has the ability to “help them become the best people they have the potential to be” (Glass). She goes on to say how the information on how traits are developed has taught her the importance of accepting and responding to children’s unique tendencies to be able to maximize your influence in their life.
. The topic of where traits come from is a very complex one. Nature and nurture are the two factors that shape who we are. Looking into how the two work together is new for scientists. They have made use of the twin and adoptive studies and have found that different traits have different range reactions. Traits such as intelligence, musical talent, and athleticism have wide range reactions and demonstrate very well the way nature and nurture can work together. The new information on how the two are intertwined can be very helpful to both parents and teachers. Even with all the information scientists have already uncovered on nature and nurture, there is still a lot to learn.
one or the other to how much of each looking into what goes into forming who people are. Nature and nurture work coherently to develop human traits which can be specifically demonstrated in intelligence, athletics, and musical talent.
1. Various Arguments
Over the years the nature versus nurture debate has not disappeared. There are still many disagreements over where traits come from. Those with an extreme hereditary view are known as nativists. Their position is that characteristics are due to each person’s genetic code. Those with the opposite view are known as empiricists. They believe that at birth our mind is a blank slate, and that we are shaped purely by experience. However, hardly anyone holds either of these extreme positions anymore (McLeod). But there are still some people who refuse to attribute behavior influence to DNA as opposed to the environment and free will. Social and behavioral scientists also have doubts about the influence of DNA (Robinson). But today the majority of scientists agree that due to overwhelming evidence for both nature and nurture “it is now clear that DNA is both inherited and environmentally responsive” (Robinson).
According to Professor John Baldwin at the University of Santa Barbra, previous arguments over nature versus nurture are too simplistic. Trying to trace certain behaviors back to only nature or nurture is too one sided. These views “fail to grasp the rich complexities of human behavior” (Baldwin). Scientists today see the two forces of nature and nurture as fundamentally intertwined (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia). Once it is decided that nature and nurture are the two factors that affect the way the brain functions the question becomes about how they work together.
2. How Nature and Nurture Work Together
According to the US Institute of medicine genes and the environment each have specific roles to play in order to shape who people are. Nature and nurture are a “complex interplay of many factors”. Determining how genes and the environment impact us is not as simple as saying a certain gene produces a certain behavior. Or as simple as saying a certain environmental factor produces a certain behavior. It is actually the result of the gene being affected directly and indirectly which influence variants in behavior. These variants in behavior are what produces individuality (Institute of Medicine). More specifically, genes play a role in the brain by affecting neurotransmitters, which influence the brains complex functions such as personality, memory, and intelligence. However, neurotransmitters also affect gene expression which is shaped by environmental influence. So, brain function is then also dependent on external factors such as diet or geography (Carter 192).
3. Research Used in Nature Nurture Debate Common research that test how nature and nurture affect us is by using twins. Identical twins provide some of the best data because they have identical hereditary information, so any differences in traits show the effects of environment (Klissouras 2). According to The Brain Book studies of twins who have been separated at birth still show similar traits in terms of interest, personality, and attitude (Carter 193). The twins are more similar than chance would allow showing the effects of nature. However, it cannot solely be nature because the twins still showed numerous differences. The similarities of the twins show the very powerful influence that genes play in the brain, but also the role environment plays. Another way researchers test the effects of nature and nurture is with adoption studies. In which researchers look at similarities between the adoptive children and their biological and adoptive families. Adoptive children are good subjects because they provide an easy way to see the effects of both nature and nurture on them. The similarities between the kids and their biological families show heritability, while the similarities between the kids and their adoptive families shoe the influence of the environment.
4. Individual Traits
The way nature and nurture work together can be shown in individual traits. Different traits vary under how they are affected by hereditary and environmental conditions. The textbook Experience Human Development uses the term range reactions to help explain how exactly nature and nurture work together. Range reaction is a range of potential expressions for a hereditary trait. Then, hereditary can influence how wide or narrow a range reaction is (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia). For example, body size has a larger range reaction than height because genes for body size allow a wide size range depending on factors such as nutrition and the types of food available in their society while height has strict genetic limits. Traits with an extremely narrow range of reaction are referred to as canalized. A good example is eye color which is strongly programmed by genes and allows very little opportunity for variance. So it is referred to as highly canalized (Feldman, Martorell, and Papalia).
Looking at traits with a wide range reaction, such as intelligence, athleticism, or musical talent can show the role each nature and nurture has to play. There are obviously some people who are genetically better suited to become athletes or musicians. Likewise there are some people who are who genetically gifted with high IQs. Professor John Baldwin at the University of Santa Barbra comments on these genetic traits “you may a have a complex mix of all sorts of genetic potentials for excellence in various aspects of human life. That does not mean that you will automatically develop those potentials: it merely show you have a genetic possibility for outstanding development” (Baldwin).
4.1 Intelligence
Intelligence is an example of a trait that is both affected by genes and the environment. Genes and the environment work together from birth to produce a person’s intelligence level. Genes play a big role in intelligence. According to a Boundless Psychology textbook, “Intelligence is thought to be up to 80% heritable in adult humans” (Boundless). However even with such a high level of inherited intelligence the environment still has a big impact on intelligence. In fact, Dave Phoenix states in the Journal of Biological Education “I feel that one must conclude that there are many people of high intelligence who have not realized their potential to due environmental factors” (Phoenix). Environments role in intelligence is determining is the inherited traits for intelligence are fully developed.
Biological influences, things like nutrition and stress, affect intelligence from the prenatal stage on. Nutrition has a big effect on intelligence. According to Boundless Psychology, “Proper nutrition is especially critical in the early stages of life, as it establishes a base-line for further intellectual development. Malnutrition can disrupt neural connections and pathways, and leave a person unable to recover mentally” (Boundless). Stress is another big factor; too much stress can put irreversible damage on human development. There are also sociocultural influences, things like the influence of a family unit. Home life can play a big role on children’s intelligence. Other factors that can effect intelligence are things like access to an education, training, and various resources. These things all play a role in life long intelligence (Boundless). Biological and sociocultural influences as well as genetics shape human intelligence. 4.2 Musical Talent
In the same way that intelligence is both inherited and learned musical ability is as well. Some people have genotypes that give them a distinct genetic advantage in developing musical talent. Judy Judge in the article "Musical Talent: Born Genius?" looks at the development of child prodigies. She states that there is something called the “natural potential to achieve” which includes all the intellectual skills and abilities needed to become a musician. When looking at child prodigies some common characteristics were discovered including well developed sensory, motor, and visual skills, imagination, good reflexes, and coordination (Judge). These skills called the “natural potential to succeed” seem to indicate that part of musical ability must be inherited by certain genotypes passed on. Furthermore, many parents of musically talented children reported that their children learned extremely quickly. Some of the kids with little to no practice (Judge). The fact that these kids could were able to learn with little or no practice points to certain genes that gifted them to succeed.
However, musical ability cannot simply be inherited because if you are not raised in an environment that values music and you never pursue music than your potential for musical talent would never be realized regardless of a “natural potential to succeed”. There are many factors which go into developing talent including encouragement, high levels of practice, and cultural and family values in music (Judge). All of these factors point to an environmental influence as well. Therefore environment and genes must both play a role in the trait for musical talent.
4.3 Athletic Ability
Athletic ability is another good example of a trait being both inherited and learned. There are many areas of physical performance which are affected by genes. Some people have been gifted with genes that make them natural athletes. This is because there are certain genes and certain physical qualities that give some people a distinct athletic advantage. For example, there is a gene for insulin-like growth factor. This genes influences an athlete’s muscle mass and aids in activities such as sprinting (Brain Book). There are numerous other genes which affect physical performance as well. But athleticism is not only affected by genes, the environment plays a role as well.
It is as the Brain Book points out “Although most successful sprinters share a genetic advantage, the right genes alone are not enough. Athletes have to train hard and have a desire to win if they are to become champions” (Brain Book). So, some parts of athleticism are inherited by genes but that alone is not enough to become a successful athlete. In order to become a good athlete a lot of practice is required. Athletes can also be affected by a number of factors including culture, parents, and coaches. Culture affects the types of sports or activities people are likely to purse. For example America places a lot of focus on football, while Mexico places focus more on soccer. So, cultural values might sway opinions on which type of sport or activity people want to pursue. Parents and coaches play a big role as well. They can either encourage athletes to grow and develop their skills. Or, they can also have a negative influence and turn athletes away from a sport. Becoming an athlete requires a lot of work and athleticism is both heavily influenced by genes and the
environment.
5. Benefits of Studying Nature and Nurture
Questions about how biology and experience shape our brains are very recent. The have been around less than five years (Institute of Medicine). The new research of how nature and nurture work together can have a big impact in the world. The knowledge can be beneficial to teachers and parents.
Knowledge of where traits come from can be beneficial to teachers. Studies on what affects children’s learning and intelligence can help teachers and parents provide proper information on how to properly encourage and teach kids so they are able to reach their full being both inherited and learned, “such work is of importance if children are to maximize their development and provide a rich resource for society in later life” (Phoenix). He goes on to say that “if we agree that intellectual attainment is a combination of both ability and effort, then students can be encouraged to maximize their effort by considering obvious factors, such as staff attitude on self-perception”(Phoenix). This presents one of the main benefits of looking into how genes and nature affect us. The information can guide parents and teachers how to best instruct kids to develop their potential for favorable traits, such as intelligence. It could provide information on how to make sure there is no over looked potential in children. Julia Glass in her article “Nature vs. Nurture” discusses the impact her research on the nature nurture debate had on how she raised her kids. From the research she said it was made clear that she does not have the power to change her children’s genes or to be the only influence in their lives. But, she has learned that she has the ability to “help them become the best people they have the potential to be” (Glass). She goes on to say how the information on how traits are developed has taught her the importance of accepting and responding to children’s unique tendencies to be able to maximize your influence in their life.
. The topic of where traits come from is a very complex one. Nature and nurture are the two factors that shape who we are. Looking into how the two work together is new for scientists. They have made use of the twin and adoptive studies and have found that different traits have different range reactions. Traits such as intelligence, musical talent, and athleticism have wide range reactions and demonstrate very well the way nature and nurture can work together. The new information on how the two are intertwined can be very helpful to both parents and teachers. Even with all the information scientists have already uncovered on nature and nurture, there is still a lot to learn.