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Pages:
2 pages/β‰ˆ550 words
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2 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Psychology
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 8.64
Topic:

The Nature Nurture Debate: Cognitive Development Research Work

Essay Instructions:

The Nature Nurture Debate
In an approx., 22 minute Ted Talks video, professor Steven Pinker discusses his book “The Blank Slate” which includes some of his thoughts regarding the innateness of being human and development. Watch the video at: http://www(dot)ted(dot)com/talks/steven_pinker_chalks_it_up_to_the_blank_slate
Of the many things Dr. Pinker discusses, one is the use of “twin studies”. For this exercise, please do the following: (be sure to use at least one term from chapter one of your text and note the page number)
1. Describe what twin studies are.
2. Discuss at least one reason there might be so many similarities found between identical twins reared apart BESIDES shared genes.
3. Take a stand: Why AND why not are twin studies a viable research method to use in cognitive development research work?

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Nature vs. Nurture
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In simple terms, twin studies are scientific studies involving twins. The studies are mainly established to evaluate the contribution of genes and environment to human attributes. In most cases, these studies compare identical twins and the fraternal ones. The study then goes on comparing the traits of different kind of kids brought up apart or together. Thus there are three kinds of studies here. The first study is the comparison of twins raised apart. Considerations here are that the genotype of the two twins is similar, but the environment is different. The expected outcome is intellectual disparity due to the difference in the environments.
Studies by Steven Pinker in the video, however, compared identical twins who were separated at birth; one was raised as a Catholic in Germany and the other as a Jew in Trinidad When the two met later in life they were found to have similar behaviors for instance, when they met, they all had blue shirts on and they would all sneeze in the elevator to scare people. The second study is the identical twins who are brought up together. The two share all the genes and the same environment. The expected outcome of this study is that this twins would be super-similar compared to those raised apart. However, Pinker says that there is no difference between those brought up in the same environment and those apart.
The third kind of study is that of fraternal twins who are brought up together. The study is based on the fact that these twins share genes, but they don't share all the genes. However, th...
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