Psychology Questions Coursework: Nature vs. Nurture

Psychology Questions
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Psychology Questions
1 Nature vs. Nurture
It is an indisputable fact that both the environment (nature) and the manner in which we are brought up, beliefs and practices (nurture) contribute to the development of an individual’s personality (Moore, 2013). What is in contention though is which of the two plays a greater role in shaping a person. Some scientists argue that people act the way they do because of the kind of environment they have been exposed to while others argue that people behave in the manner that they do because that is what they have been taught in the family and societal level.
Looking at the studies that have been conducted over the years, it would be erroneous to conclude that a particular trait in a person is entirely because of nature or nurture. For instance looking at the IQ debate there is substantial evidence that the manner in which a child is brought up may determine their IQ. However genes also contribute to a person’s IQ to a large extent.
While many people claim to have acquired physical features from their parents through inheritance, this argument does not account for talents like a great voice and the personality that people have (Rosenberg, 2013). Although it is quite agreeable that pretty much of what we are as individuals may have been inherited from our parents (nurture) the genes seem to take a lot of credit as far as intelligence, personality and behavior of an individual is concerned. Although it is not clear what part of us is as a result of genetic composition and the other as result of environmental impacts, it is clear that both of them play a key role in the development of a person.
In an attempt to put to rest this unending debate of nature vs. nurture, some facts have been put straight. It is as a result of nature that we have the inborn abilities and talents but it is nurture that shapes these abilities and talents as people grow and mature. Despite setting the record straight on the interaction of genes and environment, the debate of nature and nurture still goes on. There are arguments on how much each of these two contributes to the development of a person. To what extent is nature significant in development of a person and the vice versa?
To help clear doubts, this discussion focuses on the nature theory and the nurture theory separately. It is common knowledge that traits like the color of eyes and the hair are as result of genes contained in the human cells. However the nature theory further argues that traits like intelligence and person’s behavior can be found in the genes. It is this argument that has been said to be controversial.
On the other hand, according to the nurture theory it is argued that although genes are party to the development of a person, the environment plays a key role in shaping a person’s intellect, behavior and personality (Groenhut, 2014).
To put the debate of nature vs. nurture to rest it would be important to accept that these two elements, genes and environment play a significant role and none is lesser than the other since none can work solely. Without nature, there would not be proper development of a human bein...