Nature or Nurture in Childs Development - Essay Example

The debate involving nature or nurture as it relates to child development has been ongoing for at least a century. The question is whether children are influenced more by nature, genetic and biological circumstances, or nurture which describes parenting skills, peer associations and the socioeconomic environment where kids are raised. Most experts say that both nature and nurture impact a child’s cognitive abilities as well as social and physical development but to what extent and exactly how much each contributes remains uncertain. The rationale for each position of the nature vs. nurture debate presents convincing evidence regarding how these two development factors influence children.

When a person refers to nature, they are talking about heredity, the genetic construction of a person that is transferred to them by their ancestors. Some examples of nature, or inherited traits, include a person’s disposition, general appearance, behavioural patterns, height/weight and IQ all of which appreciably influence a child’s development.  Nurture, or environmental influence, that a person experiences during their youth also impacts their development considerably but to what degree outside stimulus both affects and/or counteracts genetic predispositions is the subject of continuous studies and varies to an extent in every individual. Some basic aspects of nurturing, nutrition as an example have been shown to play an important role in shaping a child’s development. Other external dynamics for instance fears experienced by a young child can become entrenched and manifest into any one of many problems that could surface throughout that child’s life in assorted ways. Appropriate behaviour cannot be developed properly if not learned as a child. “Nurturing activities such as behavioural techniques taught by disciplinary measures and observations is an important aspect of child development” (Blanz, 1991, pp. 939–950). Behaviour has been demonstrated to be more dependent on nurture than nature.

To more clearly understand the degree to which nature, or genetics, affects children’s development; many studies have been conducted by researchers involving sets of twins who were raised by different parents in dissimilar environments. One study called the ‘Jim twins’, involved identical twins who were not raised in the same home. Though the brothers had never met, the researchers discovered several similarities between what were then 40 year men. The study concluded that no convincing rationalization existed for the many similarities they displayed except for the obvious. Nature plays a significant role in a person’s development. “The Minnesota twin study concluded that on multiple measures of personality and temperament, occupational and leisure-time interests and social attitudes, mono-zygotic twins reared apart are about as similar as are mono-zygotic twins reared together” (Flanagan). Scientists have also studied unrelated siblings who were raised in the same family and children who are not biologically related to their siblings or parents or yet share nurturing circumstances. Research conducted by the Texas Adoption Project (TAP) found that there was “little similarity between adopted children and their siblings, and greater similarity between adopted children and their biological parents” (Flanagan). The TAP study concluded that nature definitely plays a central role in how children develop consequently predictions can be made regarding how similar situations and how to properly facilitate positive outcomes. As an example, if biological parents have a certain cognitive disability, their offspring may be more prone to developing this same condition and action can be taken early as possible to deal with it (Rowe, p. 55).

A great deal of how people develop their personalities is formed by the way their parents and/or caregivers raise them and is affected by the education they receive, the culture they grow up in and the degree of social obedience to these cultural norms they adhere to. Events, whether large in scope or seemingly small, that occur to people throughout their lives affect the way their personalities develop. Momentous events such as changes in the family unit (through new births, divorce, remarriage, etc) the death of friends or family, a major move, or disturbing world events frequently have a great influence on a person’s personality, especially if it happens while the person is still in a susceptible age group, young enough to not yet have a definite conception of self or old enough than changes affect them negatively (Rowe). As far as poverty’s effect on children’s development, it has been demonstrated that economically disadvantaged parents who encourage their child’s interest in and awareness of outside activities such as entertainment venues, family excursions to the museum, the park, the zoo, etc promote the child’s psychological resilience to their impoverished circumstances “Research suggests factors like emotionally warm parenting, educational opportunities and a child’s temperament can protect against a poor socioeconomic environment” (Ham, 2004). Genetics have been demonstrated to play a vital role in a child’s development although no one disputes that parenting also plays an important part too. “Individual differences in complex traits are due at least as much to environmental influences as they are to genetic influences” (Nature versus Nurture, 2000).

Researchers in the subject have deduced that nature and nurture interact together as essential components in a child’s development. Studies have established that genetics is a fundamental feature regarding the comparable development of twins who grew up in separate families. Studies have also shown that parental involvement in addition to various external circumstances is a considerable factor regarding cognitive development. What is clearly understood is that both aspects of child development, nature and nurture, play an enormous part in children’s development but the precise extent to which will continue to be deliberated. While the position that genetics plays a considerable factor in personality development is valid, it seems apparent that parents and environment or nurture play a greater role than genetics, or nature, in establishing the skills and tools children will use to function appropriately in their specific society.