Nature vs. Nurture: a Biblical Perspective
RUNNING TITLE: Nature vs. Nurture
Nature vs. Nurture:
A Biblical Perspective
Ouida Lynne Heath
Psychology 101, Module 5
Professor Roberts
December 17, 2009
Nature vs. Nurture:
A Biblical Perspective
The Nature versus Nurture debate has been ongoing for centuries. People have tried to gain power through knowledge in determining what causes the human “mind to tick.” For centuries leaders and scientists have performed unethical and immoral studies to determine why two people with similar genetic composition can come from similar backgrounds and turn out so differently. I have witnessed a person raised in a poor home by parents with drug addictions become a thriving contributable member of society. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed a person raised in a Christian home with a Father as a minister who ended up in prison. As we learn about the psychological and biological composition of human beings and the affecting environment, I am compelled to ask the following questions: 1. What is the history of Nature vs. Nurture? 2. What are the most essential characteristics of this issue? 3. What does the Bible say about Nature vs. Nurture?
This review of the literature on Nature vs. Nurture focuses on these three questions.
What is the history of Nature vs. Nurture?
As I mentioned in my opening, government leaders and scientists have been conducting experiments through the centuries trying to determine why people turn out the way they do. We learned in school how Hitler conducted experiments on the Jews throughout the war in an attempt to create the ultimate “super race”. Frederick the Eleventh, King of Germany tried to conduct an experiment on children by taking babies from their mothers and placing them with foster mothers. He directed the foster mothers to suckle the children, bathe and wash them, but not to speak to the children. King Frederick
Nature vs. Nurture:
A Biblical Perspective
Ouida Lynne Heath
Psychology 101, Module 5
Professor Roberts
December 17, 2009
Nature vs. Nurture:
A Biblical Perspective
The Nature versus Nurture debate has been ongoing for centuries. People have tried to gain power through knowledge in determining what causes the human “mind to tick.” For centuries leaders and scientists have performed unethical and immoral studies to determine why two people with similar genetic composition can come from similar backgrounds and turn out so differently. I have witnessed a person raised in a poor home by parents with drug addictions become a thriving contributable member of society. Unfortunately, I have also witnessed a person raised in a Christian home with a Father as a minister who ended up in prison. As we learn about the psychological and biological composition of human beings and the affecting environment, I am compelled to ask the following questions: 1. What is the history of Nature vs. Nurture? 2. What are the most essential characteristics of this issue? 3. What does the Bible say about Nature vs. Nurture?
This review of the literature on Nature vs. Nurture focuses on these three questions.
What is the history of Nature vs. Nurture?
As I mentioned in my opening, government leaders and scientists have been conducting experiments through the centuries trying to determine why people turn out the way they do. We learned in school how Hitler conducted experiments on the Jews throughout the war in an attempt to create the ultimate “super race”. Frederick the Eleventh, King of Germany tried to conduct an experiment on children by taking babies from their mothers and placing them with foster mothers. He directed the foster mothers to suckle the children, bathe and wash them, but not to speak to the children. King Frederick
References: Kimble, G. (1993). Evolution of the nature–nurture issue in the history of psychology. Nature, nurture & psychology (pp. 3-25). Washington, DC US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10131-001. Life Application Study Bible (New International Version). (1973). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Meyers, D.G. (2008). Nature, Nurture, and Human Diversity. In C. Brune & N. Fleming (Eds.), Psychology: Ninth Edition (pp. 133-169). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Voland, E. (2000). Nature or nurture?--the debate of the century, a category error, and the illuminating impact of evolutionary psychology. European Psychologist, 5(3), 196-199. doi:10.1027//1016-9040.5.3.196.