Essay on The Role of Nature vs Nurture - 632 Words

The Role of Nature vs Nurture We used to think our fate was in our stars. Now, we know, in large part, that our fate is in our genes. ---James Watson While social research has been steady and ongoing, our biological knowledge has advanced disproportionately in recent times. As we discover more about the role of genes in pre-determining who we are, the nature versus nurture debate seems headed for a tilt of the biological over the environmental. Nature, or our biological aspect, does matter a lot. From the point of fertilization, genes guide the growth of cells, the embryo and eventually the fetus. The physical configuration of the newborn, from the positioning of the limbs right down to dimples, is almost entirely charted by†¦show more content†¦Nowhere do genes exhibit their vital role more dramatically than in the case of genetic disorders. Genetic scientists have uncovered an increasing number of genes that code for diseases such as sickle-cell anemia, Turner syndrome, and many others. It has further been shown how the slightest alteration of the human genome leads to exaggerated, often disastrous results. The role of nurture, on the other hand, is sometimes neglected behind the bustle of scientific discoveries. Though human growth in the womb is guided by strict genetic instructions, external factors are equally capable of influencing growth. Expectant mothers who smoke give birth to infants with lower birth-weight, while drugs and other teratogens are known to affect infant physical and cerebral development. Cases of children abandoned in the wilderness have shown that without social interaction and practice, language does not develop on its own, despite the universal signs of linguistic pre-wiring. In the Rhesus monkey study, the researcher discovered that although some monkeys are by nature more temperamental, leaving them in the care of patient and devoted mother monkeys ameliorates their fiery temper. Likewise, for humans, Urie Bronfenbrenners ecological model of human development argues that human development is influenced by a spectrum of external factors from the closest - the family, up to culture and social milieu. For example, research has shown that children brought up in anShow MoreRelatedNature vs. Nurture1117 Words   |  5 PagesThe nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in sociology (Davidson, 1991, n.p.). The debate centers on the relative contributions of genetics and environmental factors to human behavior (Davidson, 1991, n.p.). Today, the majority of experts believe that behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture (Macionis, 2009, p. 73). The biggest question now is which one affects human development more: nature or nurture? According to Macionis (2009, p. 72), in the pastRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : Addiction1102 Words   |  5 Pages Nature vs. Nurture: Addiction Introduction Psychology is a developing science which studies the mental functions, processes, and behaviors of an individual. In the science of psychology, many debates arise; nature vs. nurture is one of the most popular ones. These psychological debates are followed by research, backing up either nature or nurture or both. Nature suggest heredity impacts human psychological development; nurture suggests the environment impacts our psychologicalRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture in Mary Shelley ´s Frankenstein1008 Words   |  4 PagesNature vs. Nurture Francis Galton, the English Victorian polymath first coined the term, Nature vs. Nurture in 1871, when he considered how much influence our upbringing had on our fate, and whether or not our destiny was preset. 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