Nature vs nurture

Nature vs. Nurture

Psychology 101

Kedma Miranda

Liberty University

Nature vs. Nurture

Introduction

The nature versus nurture debate has been taking place for several years, the main aspect of the debate is whether the actions performed by humans are caused due to an individual’s involvement with the environment or they are caused due to the genetics of the individual (Nevid, 2009, p.324). Nature is regarded as something natural and is referred to as genetically in the nature versus nurture, which is regarded as the affect of environment of an individual since the day he or she was born.

Body

Researchers state that the physical state of an individual is obtained through inheritance; this means that genetics play a major role in the physical formation of an individual (Powell, 2009, p.5). For example: an individual from his or her parents as well as forefathers inherits eye color, shape of fingers and diseases such as diabetes. If a particular individual is experiencing disease such as diabetes, researchers state that the chances their children experiencing the same disease are quite high. Similarly the biological approach of behavior states that cognitive abilities and personality characteristics that direct behavior are even obtained by an individual from his family members (Vito, 2007, p.106). This approach even states that these traits and abilities are in born and are not acquired after an individual becomes a part of this world. Those in the favor of this approach are recognized as nativists (Park, 2011, p.14). The nativists argue that individual characteristics are an outcome of evolution and one individual is different from another due to genetic code inherited by an individual. Freud is one of those theorists who believe that an individual’s traits are the underlining factors of his behavior (Vito, 2007, p.116). He states that an individual acts in an aggressive manner because of the process of Thanatos, which