Does Nature or Nurture Have a Greater Impact on Development - Essay Example

Does Nature or Nurture Have A Greater Impact On Development? Development defines the human growth all through the natural life, from formation to death. The scientific, human development study endeavors to comprehend and give an explanation as to how and the reasons why people transform throughout life. The characteristics of human development are depicted from various methods such as the emotional, social, physical, perceptual, intellectual as well as the personality development. The scientific study is significant to the psychologists, health care, sociology, and education stakeholders. Development engages the social and mental process features besides the physical and biological aspects. The human development study is significant in numerous subject areas such as sociology, psychology, education, and biology. Major significance, however, lies on the practical applications of the human development studies (Bouchard, Lykken, McGue, Segal and Tellegen, pp 1). This paper, therefore, seeks to better comprehend the influence of development from nature and nurture, providing a clear outline from the two aspects. An individual’s inheritance of genes is considered to determine an individual’s nature. Genes have been considered to be the blueprint for an individual’s development physically besides being emotional and mental, as well. On top of the inheritance of certain attributes that are of physical nature from their biological parents including the eye color, height, as well as the tendency to physical sickness, human beings are able to inherit certain mental features and persona from their parents such as an inclination for certain disorders that are mental. Nature looks at the biological composition of an individual whereas nurture focuses on the upbringing of an individual in his or her environment and the person responsible for the upbringing. Both nature and nurture are accountable for the human development. The major field in the nature against nurture debate revolves around intelligence. In as much as intelligence is very much connected to accomplishment, it is argued that intelligence is influenced by genetics to a certain scope, an example of twins, shows that they exhibit similarity in their level of intelligence when the biological connection is much stronger. However, a similar intelligence level can also be depicted by unrelated children raised up jointly in a similar surrounding, even though they are without biological the links. Intelligence, therefore, is not influenced by one ultimate cause. On top of the physical features and the intelligence level, resolve of whether the surroundings or genetics manipulate an individual’s persona is necessary. Most things appear to be inherited including principles and manners towards politics and the time used up watching movies or television. It is significant to know that it has not been determined whether an exact gene is accountable for influencing the mannerisms listed above as examples. Regarding the mental disorders, an example of mental illness, schizophrenia, a state of severe emotional disorder typified by dispersed thoughts, mirages, and confusion, has been realized to possess a relative genetic connection, a gist that if a member of the family suffers from it, there is a bigger chance that another member of the family or upcoming offspring could also contract it . Schizophrenia may be predisposed to an individual because of the hereditarily links, but that does not signify that he or she will ever contract the disorder. Major despair and alcoholism are other attributes that may be inherited, as well. Both the biological composition and environment play a significant role in shaping people. Biological children may share comparable traits as their parent (Bouchard et. al, pp 2). Adopted kids too may also share in the identical behavior and personality with their adoptive close relatives especially parents. It is, therefore, imperative to assist health professionals, researchers, and teachers as well in understanding their prospective achievements and development in their being. Scientists have always debated the position of heredity in human beings in shaping their lives. They have connected certain traits to genetic inheritance from the parents. Traits like eye color, hair color, and other visible traits are determined by the gene encoding of the human genetically makeup. This theory also goes further to state that other abstract characteristics exhibited in human beings including intelligence; aggression, sexual preference and an individual’s personality are because of genetically encoding that is unique in every individual. The existence and search of behavioral genes is causing a raging debate among scientists since they argue that genetics will be used as an excuse for crimes committed by individuals. Murders and acts of hostility might be linked to the theory hence, attempting to wrongly justify criminal acts. Another raging debate in regards to nature theory is the gay culture that is becoming more visible in society. Some scientists are linking genetics to the influencing on the sexual orientation of individuals. They argue that the genetically make up of individuals determine whether they are heterosexual or have a homosexual preference. Scientists have over the times tried to demystify the myths surrounding the gay culture. However, the conclusions are not clear with the scientists still clashing over the theory. There is, however, some agreement that genetics have a part to play in sexual course. While not dismissing the influence some scientists still believe that the nature theory is inconsequential. They strongly believe that the environment determines the behavior of individuals. Some scientists suggest that complex characteristics like the sense of wit may be influenced by the environment. The scientists claim that it is the surroundings that form an individual’s behavior. Nurture can influence the development of humans because it influences the character and attitude development of humans (Bouchard et. al, pp 2). For instance, considering the theoretical prepositions twin infants nurtured by different people are like to develop in different ways. The development difference may be variation in the behavior of the twins. For instance, if a twin is nurtured in an environment where people are violent, the twin will develop behavior that is violent and will grow up to become a threat to the society. If the other twin is nurtured in an environment where the people around are strict and believe on maximum discipline, then the twin will develop behavior that depicts much discipline. Moreover, if one twin infant is nurtured in an environment where they are always mistreated, and the people around them are bullies, the twin infant will have a pessimistic attitude toward life. If the other twin grows in a surrounding, where they are treated with care and are loved, and the people around them, makes them not feel belittled the twin infant will develop an optimistic attitude toward life. When the twins are brought together, then a big difference in their development is seen. The style, through which humans are nurtured, therefore, affects development because it dictates the character of the person and the attitude that a person has toward life. These factors apart from affecting the infants can also to some extent influence the teenagers. For instance, a teen that is indiscipline can be nurtured by putting them in a restricted environment where the teen is given restrictions on what they should do and what they should not do. For the purpose of proper development of a person’s character and attitude, the nurturing environment should be made conducive for the person. Scientific advancements and discoveries signify that nurture dramatically affects human behaviors while they grow up. One of the largely famed incidents of how nurture affects human behavior is the feral children. A feral child lives a secluded life from human touch since their young age, and has not experienced or has little human care, affectionate or social behavior, and vitally, of human speech. For instance, if a child that is raised in the jungle among monkeys or wolves, the child develops a total absence of social approach and almost spurning of anything human. It is also vital to note that the child is prone progression will probably be either on their four limbs. This initiation demonstrates those abnormal environments can produce totally different traits of a new born child. Nurture identifies and differentiates how people behave in society. For instance, in the event of alike twins who might posses similar genetic constitute they may consist dissimilar behaviors. This occurs because the two go through different experiences happening throughout their lives that shape their individuality, behavior, and psychopathology in ways that make them unique relative to each other. Conclusion It is evident that genetics and atmosphere both influence the early development of humans. Nature may choose the characteristics of a toddler when they are born. Nonetheless, nurture has more influences on human development in the future life. It is apparent that although nature provides new babies, nurture improves these potencies to be used in a proper way that is acceptable in society and that are beneficial to humans. Work Cited Bouchard, T., Lykken, D., McGue, M., Segal, N., & Tellegen,A. Are You A "Natural"? Sources of human psychological differences: The Minnesota study of twins reared apart. (1990).Science, 250, 1-6. Read More