Nature VS Nurture Essay PDF

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The main assignment for this course is the nature vs. nurture argument. You have the option of taking a side and debating it throughout the essay....

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Nature Vs. Nurture Assignment

Nature Verses Nurture is a much-debated theory that questions whether the traits and characteristics a person develops from birth is due to genetics being passed down to them, or if a person’s characteristic and traits is the result of their environment and surroundings. This contentious debate began in the late 1960’s and is still debated in psychology today. Although some psychologists believe personality traits and characteristics stem exclusively from either nature or nurture, there is convincing evidence that Nature and Nurture both influence the development of personality traits and characteristics. Studies about the development of twins, gene research, and mental illness all point to how Nature and Nurture both play an equal part in shaping an individual’s personal character traits. Firstly, twin studies are very helpful when it comes to the debate of Nature Verse Nurture because these studies show how both play a role in development. In 2015, Dr. Beben Benyamin and researchers from VU University in Amsterdam reviewed case studies focusing on twins, that had taken place over the past 50 years. Dr. Benyamin reported, “When visiting the nature versus nurture debate, there is overwhelming evidence that both genetic and environmental factors can influence traits and diseases… What is comforting is that, on average, about 50 percent of individual differences are genetic and 50 percent are environmental” (Dana Dovey, 2015). Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg; therefore, they have the same genes. If nature was the only defining factor in the twin’s development, then the twins should not only look

identical, but also have the same personality traits. Since most twins don’t have identical personality traits, their differences must be the result of environmental factors (nurture).

Secondly, Nature and Nurture both play a role in personality trait development because scientists that study gene development have discovered a link that connects genes and environmental factors. This theory upholds that nature and nurture are inseparable. An article in Good Therapy Today references a book entitled “the Dependent Gene” By David S. Moore who believes that there is a link between gene development and environmental factors. The article summarizes Moore’s findings when it states, “Some genes, for example, cannot be activated without certain environmental inputs” (Nature vs. Nurture Debate, 2015). There are certain genes that a person is born with that cannot be activated until an environmental stimulus comes into play, and vice versa. “The development of vision is a prime example of this. People cannot develop normal sight without exposure to visual stimuli. Similarly, some environmental inputs may be undermined by some genes. For example, some lifelong smokers may never experience smoking-related illnesses, and this may be due at least in part to their genes” (Nature vs. Nurture Debate, 2015). Parents of infants will purchase mobiles and other visually stimulating toys (nurture) to help develop the infant’s sense of sight (nature). This common technique for raising a child is a perfect example of how a gene’s development is influenced by environmental factors. Therefore, the link between genes and environmental factors and the influence they have on each

other demonstrate that Nature and Nurture both influence the development of personality traits and characteristics.

Lastly, the study of metal health illnesses proves that Nature and Nurture both play a role in the development of personal wellbeing. Director of the National Institutes of Mental Health, Dr. Thomas Insel believes that “It is not a question of genes versus environment. It is a question of how genes interact with whatever the environmental factors might be. And that is probably true of all of the disorders that we call mental illness” (Steenhuysen & Hirschler, 2008). The study lead by Dr. Insel focused on linking genes (nature) and how people reacted to stressful events (nurture). In this study, Dr. Insel explored how these two factors impacted the individual’s mental health, specifically depression. This study “found that people with a short version of a gene that relays the chemical messenger serotonin were more prone to depression after losing a job or a loved one” (Steenhuysen & Hirschler, 2008). Over the course of a life time, all people encounter environmental factors that challenge them, but only a percentage of people develop mental health illnesses as a result of these challenges. “There is going to be a genetic factor that gives you the risk. And it all depends on what happens in a person’s lifetime,” reported Dr. Insel (Steenhuysen & Hirschler, 2008). This study on mental health confirms that both Nature and Nurture play an equal role in how people develop over their life time.

Studies focusing on mental illness, gene research and the development of twins all confirm that Nature and Nurture work together to shape an individual’s personality and character traits. Every person in the world is shaped from an infinite number of environmental and hereditary factors that influence development. Our upbringing matters. The people in our lives matter. Also, the genetic traits we were born with matter. This complex weaving of Nature and Nurture is what makes each person unique.

References

Dovey, D. (2015, May 22). Nature vs. Nurture Debate: 50-Year Twin Study Proves It Takes Two To Determine Human Traits. Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/naturevs-nurture-debate-50-year-twin-study-proves-it-takes-two-determine-human-334686.

McLeod, S. (1970, January 01). Nature Nurture in Psychology | Simply Psychology

Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html.

Moore, D. S. (2003). The dependent gene: The fallacy of nature vs. nurture. New York, NY: Henry Holt. Fox, E. B. (2008, February 04). Nature and nurture play role in mental illness. Retrieved fromhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-genes-mental/nature-and-nurture-playrole-in-mental-illness-idUSN0459719720080204. Nature vs. Nurture. (2015, August 12). Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/natureversus-nurture....