For or Against the Influence of Nature and or Nurture in Childhood Development - Essay Example

For or Against the Influence of Nature and or Nurture in Childhood Development Introduction The debate on whether on not a child’s development is influenced by nature or nurture still ranges on. However considering the fact that the child in brought up in the society of persons and inherits some characteristics from parents; it can be said that both nature and nurture play a part in the development of children. A child is brought up in a society in which conformity is the norm. In the immediate family the child is exposed to a number of issues and learns how to behave in the larger society (Ahuja, n.d). The parents play an important role to ensure that children become responsible citizens. They are made to interact with fellow children, learn some mannerisms and embrace the society as a whole. We are all shaped by the families that we were born, schools we attend and friend we associate with. On the other hand there are studies that suggest nature to be the sole influence on the development of children. The genes inherited from parents continue to be passed on from generation to another. These genes influence the way we behave, interact and carryon with the day to day life in the society. It therefore remains for researchers to ascertain the extent to which either of the two influences development of children. This paper will try to analyze the two sides of the argument and try to establish the truthfulness in the theories. However, considering the topic of the discussion it may not be possible to come up with a stand on the issue. Nature Impact on Development There are a number of illustrations to show the influence of nature on the development of children. Naturally people inherit some characteristics from their parents. These include behavior, skin color, height etc. A number of studies have been carried out to illustrate the influence of nature on a child’s development. For instance a study on adopted babies was ideal to show unrelated children sharing the same environment. In one of these studies it was noted a great similarity between the adopted children with their biological father and less resemblance with their siblings. This experiment emphasized the important role nature plays in the development of children. Furthermore the case of identical twins raised separately points to similar results. The Jim twins who did not meet till they were forty exhibited similarities despite having been raised apart (Friendly Teacher, 2005). The most viable explanation to this phenomenon is that nature plays a significant role in the development of children. In addition the characteristics of twins raised apart in terms of social attitudes, personality, temperament etc were similar to those of twins raised together. This emphasizes a significant role that nature plays in child development. There has been suggestions that an unstable family such as one characterized by violence and arguments can impact negatively on children. However, studies show genes are responsible for the latter conduct of spouses. According to researchers parents that fought often are not likely to pass a disruptive behavior gene to their children. On the contrary it is parents who argue a lot that are likely to pass this gene to their children (Society for Research in Child Development, 2007). It is the genes in parents that determine how often they quarreled. The same gene when passed to children becomes a cause of further conduct problem. The researchers therefore came to a conclusion that marital problems are less responsible for conduct problems among children. It is parent’s genes that are a major culprit. A Child Development Laboratory research show that stressed out parents raising children with stress- related gene may lead to shy kids. The research further found out that kids who were consistently shy as they grow are more than likely to have genes sensitive to stress. This study reveals shyness as an interaction between the environment and genes. A mother who is stressed will consciously or otherwise transfer his condition to the children (Association for Psychological Science, 2007). The children on the other hand react differently to stress received from the mother. This variation in reaction of an individual child is brought about by variation in genes. A child with a stress- sensitive gene raised by a mother with high levels of stress is likely to end up being shy. Despite the common tendency to blame late talking to parents, research shows they are not to blame. Unlike the myth about parenting style, family income, education background of the mother etc all these have nothing to do with the late talking. Research indicates that almost 15 per cent of two year olds are late talkers. The majority cases of delayed development of speech occur among boys. Parents are therefore assured; delayed speech is not as a result of immediate family environment. The assumption that delayed speech arises from not speaking enough to the child and or unfavorable home environment are to be rejected as false (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 2006). Similarly parents have no need to panic as most of the reported cases on delayed language development are not far from normal. Most children acquire language slowly but are still able to conform to the standard range (seven years) of language acquisition. There has been a belief that made parents be extra careful and worried on whatever a child is exposed to. The assumption was that a child’s mind is ever receptive and does not sieve information. The child therefore believes everything heard (Society for Research in Child Development, 2006). On the contrary Studies indicate 4 year olds are able to determine factual from fictitious information through contextual association. According to research carried out on children aged between 3 and 6 years old, context provides cues to validate a statement. As much as children deal with huge amount of new information on a daily basis still they can determine true from false information. Language acquisition among children is said to follow a particular order. It matters little the language being spoken. Children will initially learn nouns which represent concrete objects in the immediate environment. Other parts of speech that are abstract such as verbs and adjectives are learned later. The acquisition of language is universal, with all children following a particular order despite the language being spoken (NIH/National Institute of Child Health And Human Development Of The National Institutes Of Health, 2004). This study is important in helping children with language difficulties. It has been observed that developmental disorders such as autism can be detected early in life. Research shows that victims of such disorder tend not to respond to their names According to researchers failure of one year olds to respond to their names is an early indicator of developmental problem (JAMA and Archives Journals, 2007). At the age of two most children who do not respond to their names are diagnosed with autism. However researches on reliable methods of ascertaining whether or not a child is a potential victim of autism are still in progress. Nevertheless this observation may as well serve as a good indicator of some developmental abnormality in a child’s life. The brains of children are pre-wired to handle faster motion. This condition changes as the child matures hence able to handle slow motion. In some cases adults too show a weakness in handling slow motion. This scientific study may relieve parents who encounter difficulties impacting throw –and- connect skills to their children (McMaster University, 2005). Parents try as much as possible to throw the ball in slow motion but the child consistently fails to hit it. This inability has a scientific explanation. The slower the motion the harder it becomes for the child to hit the ball. The reason being a child’s brain cannot effectively deal with slow motion. Parents are therefore advised to increase the pace accordingly thus favor a child’s condition. A child’s language develops as one gets to know the things that interest him or her. A toddler’s vocabulary therefore expands faster the more things interest him in the environment (Society for Research in Child Development, 2006). On the other hand older babies learn the things that interest the speaker. It is therefore important for development of language that parents speak more of what interest their babies. This is opposed to what interest them. Furthermore as much as parents want to use social cues to teach language to their babies’ studies favor a different approach. It matters little what the speaker is doing; a child learns the things that interest him. According to study the choice of career is affected by the birth order of a child (Ohio State University, 2001). The pursuit of cognitive and intellectual fields of study tends to be a reserve of only-children and sometimes first- born children. The children born later are likely to be interested in outdoor and artistic careers. Nevertheless expectations and demands of parents on their children vary with birth order. In most cases only-children are over protected hence become less inclined towards outdoor activities. The majority pursue academic careers. Parents tend to become less strict with the later-born children. This explains why the majority pursue artistic careers. Nurture Impact on Development According to the ecological systems theory development is shaped by four systems (Ahuja Y, n.d). These systems contain rules, norms and roles. Human development is influenced a great deal by the systems. These include macrosystem, microsystem, mesosystem and exosystem. Microsystem is the immediate environment of the child whereas microsystem is the larger context of culture. Mesosystem and exosystem refer to interaction with different environments and the external environment respectively. The abilities and behavior of a person are affected by the environment. These include a number of factors such as nutrition, fears and many other experiences shaping personality. A number of demonstrations show behaviors which can never develop if a child is not exposed to respective environments earlier in life (Theodore, 2009). The question therefore is not whether or not the environment affects a child’s development but to what extend. As the child grows he or she comes to be associated with a particular environment which he was raised. They are those favored by environment thus able to develop certain extraordinary traits. On the other hand the environment can hinder the proper child’s development as in the case of fear. The ability of a person is greatly influenced by nutrition. Studies conducted on a number of children point to the fact that nutrition may hinder or boost our abilities. A group of children was given mineral and vitamin supplements for some months while another was given none. The results for an intelligence test given after and before the treatment show improved scores in the former group. Similarly nutrition has an impact on the physical ability of people. A well fed child will be physically strong hence be able to play well, interact with others and feel good about himself or herself. Another study carried out on an eleven month infant showed the influence of environment on behavior. The experiment was such that whenever the child attempted to touch a white rat enclosed in a same room with him; there was a terrible noise. Later in life the child developed fear for anything white in color or flurry (Friendly Teacher, 2005). This phenomenon is true to almost each one of us. Human beings tend to associate some things experienced earlier on in life with those that come later. This comes either consciously or otherwise. Nevertheless it influences the way we behave in specific instances. An interesting phenomenon in France further emphasizes the environment influences on a person. In 1799 a near teen boy was seen running with wolves (Friendly Teacher, 2005). On being discovered the boy was readmitted in the human society. Despite this rescue the boy had difficulties coping up with the society of humans. In the end he never fully became a normal human being. This further shows that it takes effort on the part of an individual to learn human behavior. Without a society to learn from human beings are predisposed to whatever trait passed on from their immediate environment. Studies show that the quality of care given to children early in life has some impact on their behavior later as they mature (Society for Research in Child Development, 2007). In the United States children in centre-based settings are said to be problematic as they grow despite quality of care. These disobedient and aggressive behaviors continue through sixth grade. On the other hand children from alternative child care did not have the problem beyond first grade. Furthermore the quality of parenting received by children determined their social functioning and achievement. This is opposed to what was experienced earlier in child care. It has however become difficult for researchers to determine exactly whether the differences arise from genes or parenting experiences. Studies also suggest a link between early child care and problem behavior in later schooling. The children with problem behaviors in sixth grade are noted to have spent more time in center-based care. Similarly the care that children received in pre- kindergarten determined their fifth grade vocabulary scores (NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2007). Those with highest scores were observed to have received excellent child care. The conclusion of the researchers was that quality of parenting predicted the development of a child. This is opposed to any other variant in child care. A child’s language development is influenced more by the father as opposed to the mothers. Studies show that as much as the mother spends more time with the child, it is the father’s vocabulary that has more impact on the child (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006). Fathers therefore are to play a central role in upbringing of their children. This will ensure a child’s readiness for school as his or her vocabulary will be enriched. Most of the earlier studies concentrated on mother thus were not able to get worthwhile results. The researchers also found out that the level of education of parents played a major role in language abilities of their children. It has been assumed that pretending is simply a child’s play and that adults have nothing to do with it. The opposite view is in fact true. The child tries to imitate the adult world by acting whatever is observed in the immediate environment. However this pretense is not confined to the child. The caregivers are observed to aid children in this pretence long before they can play independently. As much as many parents view pretending as an important activity in the development of children; their role in the play cannot be overlooked. Once the caregivers participate in a child’s play, it becomes more elaborate and complicated (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1997). In most cases when playing alone children use ideas initiated by parents or caregivers in their previous game. The relationship between adopted grandchildren and their grandparents has been discovered to be similar to that of biological grandchildren (University of Haifa, 2007). Grandparents undergo an emotional transition till there perceive their adopted grandchildren as genuine members of the family. Initially an adopted grandchild is seen as a kind of solution to his son’s or daughter childlessness. The second stage grandparents try to rationalize. They perceive the adoption as a noble action saving a child from negligence. In the forth stage a weak emotional connection is established and finally the child is accepted as a member of the family. At the final stage there is fear by the grandparents that on reaching 18 years old the child may try to reconnect with his or her biological parents. The fear grandparents have of the child abandoning adoptive family shows the value attached to the relationship. It has come to the knowledge of researchers that academic interests of children are influenced so much by the subjects they excel in. In elementary the children may be interested in subjects which they do not perform well. However, after completion of high school children specialize in subjects they can do best. Despite the fact that the labor market favors flexibility, specialization is inevitable among children as they progress in academics. According to a study, matching interest and abilities is more pronounced among boys (Society for Research in Child Development, 2007).Girls on the other hand are well able to perform well in a subject irrespective of the level of interest. The debate on breast feeding continues to capture much interest as the career woman is torn between family and work. As much as there are alternatives to breast milk research seem to favor a longer period of breast feeding. The mental health of a child is influenced by the duration of breast feeding. Research on breast feeding points to the fact that breast milk is vital for mental development early in life (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 2006). Despite other factors breast feeding lowers the risks associated with mental health problems. The study further observes that breast feeding helps reduce delinquency, anti-social and aggressive behavior. Mothers are therefore advised to breastfeed for a longer period as this is essential for the good health of their children. Criminalization of the behavior of young aggressive children may not solve the problem at all. Studies on a number of the children indicate that most of them are sad. They feel rejected by parents, friends and schools (University Of Toronto, 2000). The call for criminalization of their behavior alienates them further from society. It is faulty for the public to imagine these children have a high self esteem. On the contrary the opposite is true of most of these children. At least those close to them are aware of their behavior far much better than everyone else. Furthermore reluctance by the public to criminalize their behavior shows the concern that most people have for the children. It is a realization that there must be something wrong and can be fixed without necessarily punishing them. It is interesting to note that children understand emotional states of people at a very young age. By paying attention to emotional reactions of adults as they carryout a conversation, children are able to develop their own behavior. This emotional reading is essential as it prepares the child for school. Sometimes this behavior is advantageous to a sensitive child. The interactions in the immediate environment of the child are guided by emotions. Meaning that a sensitive child needs not to attempt anything but simply watch how a behavior is rewarded or punished. This observation is made on his or her older siblings. The tendency to eavesdrop emotionally however can work against a child development (University of Washington, 2007). He or she may procrastinate, be too critical and or fail to act when the situation demands it. Nevertheless emotional eavesdropping is important for the children to learn some crucial lessons in life. This behavior affects both boys and girls without discrimination. The instability of a family affects the behavioral patterns of the children. This means that the more a child is exposed to various family transitions the more he will have behavioral problems. A child in a stable single-parent family is better of compared to a child who faces numerous transitions. During the transitions whether it is divorce, new cohabitation, remarriage or break up, those involved have to find their foot on a new family set up. Children in such a relationship are badly affected (Johns Hopkins University, 2007). Conclusion The debate on the influence of nature and or nurture on child development may never end. This is because experiences of individual persons vary depending on whether or not they were influenced by parents. It is this influence or otherwise that determines an individual’s opinion on the issue. However no one can argue against the effect of nature on ones childhood. We were all born and are driven by needs, emotions and instincts. All these are natural to everyone. It is upon parents and those close to a child to help channel these natural states to conformity. There are those that find it easier to conform whereas others find it impossible. This depends on the genes. Sometimes it is the question of will or how much authority parents hold. In some cases it is willingness or obedience that children show to their parents. There are homes which allow children to decide for themselves what to do. There are families where children are to be seen never to be heard. All the same if anyone disagrees with parents he or she has to wait till the age of consent to be independent. It is however interesting to note a family with God fearing parents only for the child to turn out wayward. In some cases the parents are ministers, pastors, evangelists but their up bringing does little to influence the behavior of their children. It is therefore true that nature plays a crucial role in a child’s development. On the other hand considering that family members seem to show a certain common characteristic; it is safe to say nurture too plays a role in a child’s development. It matters little whether it is family, peers or institutions. All these help to shape the behavior of children. For this reason as it has been truly observed society get the type of persons it deserves. All of us consciously or otherwise help to shape the personality of children. We are able to influence the way they talk, dress, interact etc. Normally if a child does not get lessons from immediate family members then the lessons will be gotten from the media, streets, school or neighborhood. Sometimes parents may wonder where a child picked certain words or characteristics from. It is because we live in a large society with different people and various characteristic traits. Wherever a child picks his or her behavior will continue to be a myth. References Ahuja Y (n.d) Bronfenbrenner Ecological Theory. Retrieved on November 17, 2009 from http://www.mymontessoriacademy.com/newsletters/websitebronfenbrennerecologicaltheory.pdf Association for Psychological Science (2007, March 5). Genes And Stressed-out Parents Lead To Shy Kids. ScienceDaily. 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