The nature versus nurture argument has been a vicious and recurring one that has spanned the course of several decades. As human culture has evolved, however, so has the debate. Scientists now concede to a middle ground where nature and nurture may be inseparable. Nature is defined as any “hereditary factors”—emotions and personalities—that influence who people are (Bandura, 575-582). Nurture, on the other hand, refers to any environmental variables—friends, family, society—that can impact an…
What is it to be human? One would think that humans would be experts on the subject, but instead the question seems without answer. The Wisdom of the Bones by Alan Walker and Pat Shipman explores this question by defining the physical and behavioral characteristics of humans and their ancestors. Despite our ability to create clean categories for other animals to fit in, Walker and Shipman reveal that there seems to be something harder for humans to define about ourselves. As is done with any…
Nature and Nurture both play a crucial role in a human’s development. Only through a combination of both do we receive the traits that make up who we are as people. In this essay I will define nature and nurture, relating them to my own experiences with both. Firstly, nature is the unchangeable. It is the elements of us that we are born with and sets us up for a certain path in life. A person’s genetic makeup, from a biological standpoint, defines everything about that person. These are the…
Throughout the history of biology and psychology there has been a firm belief of the effects of nature versus nurture. This belief explains that humans have innate traits when they are born but new ones can be developed throughout time. In the book Empire Falls there are many characters that display this change of character but more importantly the books shows how it affects their own and others lives, one such character is Tick Roby. Tick was first introduced to us as a burdened teen, but…
In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the upbringings of Victor and his monster influence their character formations and their perceptions of morality, which relates to the question of whether nature or nurture influences behavior. Victor lived a privileged childhood and was worshipped as an idol, but his constant pursuit of knowledge interfered with the formation of his moral rectitude. Victor mirrors the morals of his society, valuing appearance, rank, and personal endeavors above the needs and…
Thank You, Sarah Boynton The prestigious discussion over what influences one’s psychological state, the nature-nurture debate, can be simplified into lesser terms. To explain nature versus nurture, nature classifies as genes and psychological traits being determined by one’s hereditary history. On the other hand, nurture is projected as the overall experience and interaction with one’s environment (Myers, 2005-2014). There has been substantial dispute over which aspect has more significance in…
One of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the nature versus nurture debate. Both sides have great points, but it is challenging to debate whether a person’s development is based off their DNA (nature) or if it is influenced by the environment (nurture). Nature is described as the coding of genes in each cell in humans that determine the different physical traits we have. For example, eye color, hair color, etc. Nature influences people’s lives based on their intelligence…
The nature versus nurture debate encompasses many hot button topics that have led to disagreements on both sides. Included within this debate is a topic that until recently has been regarded as forbidden subject matter—what is the main influence on gender development? Biologists and other organic researchers have contended that hereditary qualities and hormones foreordain nearly everything about gender and sexual orientation, while psychologists and sociologist claim environmental factors are…
The nature of people View of human nature. My choice theoretical approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which contains components of rational behavior therapy (REBT) and cognitive therapy (CT). I believe that humans are born with both rational and irrational thinking. People actually have the tendencies to want to be happy, grow, and self-actualize, but also to be self-destructive, procrastinate, and self-blame (Corey, 2009). Humans have both biologically and culturally crooked…
Confucians who differently interpret the conception of human nature. It is described as something that we are born with and we develop with time. Even though Mencius and Xun-zi disagree in many aspects they agree in a variety as well. Everyone is born with the same set of characteristics such as feelings, pity, sense or right or wrong, compassion and other acts that lead every human being to be humane in a sense (De Bary 129). Human nature are good acts or bad acts done taken and may lead…