Nature-Nurture debate

Unit 4- Development through life stages Amal Hussein

M3- Discuss the Nature-Nurture debate in relation to individual’s development.

D1- Evaluate the Nature-Nurture debate in relation to the development of the individual

The nature-nurture debate studies the behaviour of individuals according to their development. There could be two different types of effects:

Natured
Nurtured

The nature part of the debate shows biological factors which influence an individual. This could be genetic factors such as blood type or eye colour. This is something that cannot be changed.

The nurture parts of the debate shows exactly the type of things which are taught to the individual such as, swearing or eating healthy food. This is influences from what the individual picks up as they grow older. This comes from the way they are cared for and the influence on the individual as they grow and develop. For example if an individual is born with a caring family that provides with support such as books, computers etc to learn new things then this individual will be able to develop cope better in the future than an individual that has no support with their learning.

This is a preview of the whole essay

The nature-nurture debate has the different ideas which contribute to the upbringing of individuals. Our behaviour is often said to come either from inherited characteristics (our nature) or from experiences in our environment (our nurture). Certain actions will be classed as nature whilst others are considered as nurture. Some believe that abilities are present at birth, or develop gradually through the process of maturation. While others believe that abilities are acquired through experience in the environment. Development arises from experiences around us, not from forces with in us. Actions do not come from inherited characteristics, but from experiences that we have had, so we assume our environment is important when governing what we are like. All our development comes from conditioning between certain stimuli in the environment, and then it is the environment that shapes us, and not inherited characteristics. Therefore I personally agree with the nurture side of the debate.

The earlier a particular ability appears, the more likely it is to be under the influence of genetic factors. However the fact that it develops some time after birth does not necessarily mean it has been learnt, as it could take time to mature. Different people believe different things regarding the nature, nurture debate. Genes do not determine intelligence; there is no one to one correspondent between the genes inherited from parents. What we inherit is the genotype the genes which are involved in the development of a particular trait. The first principle of development genetics is that every organism is a unique product of the interaction between genes and the environment at every stage of life.

The Human development can have both nature and nurture affect. The nature can only affect so much, it has been shown that if a child was born to alcoholic parents and then removed from the home within the first few months of life and put into a stable home where there is no alcohol they are still more likely to become alcoholics. A nurture example would be that if a child was raised in an abusive home they are more likely to engage in an abusive relationship because as a child they were observing the abusive behavior and thought that it was normal. As you can see in this example there is no genetic tie to abuse but because they were raised experiencing the abusive behavior they are more likely to engage in an abusive relationship.

Page of