The Theories Of Nature Vs. Nurture - 2037 Words

Through history, the idea of nature vs. nurture has been a hotly debated issue. Nature, or genetics is often believed to be the most important aspect of a persons’ upbringing, as nature is something intrinsic to any one person. However, many debate that nurture, or the care and encouragement of any human life, trumps nature. The earliest evidence and rebuttals of these theories have been honed and developed over time by specific psychologists and educational theorists – all who hoped to prove their own ideas as fact at one time in history. John Locke was the forefather of the Educational Constructivist movement, which theorized that children and learners construct their personal knowledge in both social and individual situations. Though his opinions were often disputed, Locke had many opinions and theories of the habits and social conventions for the education of young children. Specifically, and perhaps most importantly, he believed that â€Å"It is more accurate to think of the child’s mind as a blank slate, and whatever comes from the mind is from the environment† (Crain 7). This ‘blank slate’, or tabula rasa idea founded the theory of nurture. According to his theory, as babies we are born without knowledge of what we should fear or how we should act, it is up to our environments to teach us how to act and behave. In contrast to Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a strict Naturalist, was more concerned with the development of a person’s character and moral sense. Rousseau wasShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Nature Vs. Nurture1680 Words   |  7 PagesThe theory of nature vs. nurture, or inherited vs. acquired, is a complex psychological theory that questions how people develop, as a person, in life and how they act. Their impact determines your personality traits, values, morals, and behavior in life. The idea of nature is the belief that people develop into who they are based on genetic traits given to them at birth. For example, some children inherit a musical talent from their parents along with eye color, hair color, and race. These traitsRead MoreThe Theories Of Nature Vs Nurture1752 Words   |  8 Pages Through history, the idea of nature vs nurture has been a hotly debated issue. Nature, or genetics is often believed to be the most important aspect of a persons’ upbringing, as nature is something very intrinsic to any one person. However, many debate that nurture, or the care and encouragement of any human life, trumps nature. The earliest (proofs?) and rebuttals of these theories have been honed and developed over time by specific psychologists and educational theorists – all who hoped to proveRead MoreThe Theory Of Nature Vs. Nurture1523 Words   |  7 Pagesstated, the â€Å"nature versus nurture† concept is very prevalent within developmental theory. Many theorists have strong opinions on the subject and how it relates to biological development, behavioral development and learning. The nature concept refers to development being driven by heredity, maturation, genes, and inborn intrinsic actions (Lerner, 2002). A theorist who had a strong view that nature w as the driving force behind development was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In contrast, the nurture concept refersRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Personality Theories1855 Words   |  8 PagesPersonality theories include a wide range of thoughts and it is hard to narrow them down to a choice of how and why individuals are their identity. These complex thoughts must be examined and gone over certainly before one can decide whether an individual meets the characterized significance of the hypothesis. An example would need to be set up with the person before they could be said to have a specific identity quality. To what extent should an individual take after an example of conduct beforeRead More Nature vs. Nurture: Leaning Towards the Nurture Theory Essay2121 Words   |  9 PagesIs nature responsible for the way children think and behave, or is it due to the way a child is nurtured? Scientists and psychologists have been debating the subject of nature versus nurture for decades. The term à ¢â‚¬Å"nature† refers to heredity, or the genetic traits passed down from parent to child (Powell, 2010). Researchers all over the world attempt to prove that genetics is the sole explanation of a child’s intelligence and personality. Human DNA determines traits such as eye color, nose shapeRead MoreNature Vs Nurture Theory Essay828 Words   |  4 PagesQ) What was the basis of doctors reasoning to raise David (named Bruce at birth) as a girl? Explain the doctors reasoning in relation to nature versus nurture theories. The phycologist recommended to David’s parents that they can raise David as a girl just by developing his identity as a feminine. The physiologist also recommended that the surgical process of constructing penis would be more difficult and risky for David than the surgical construction of a vagina. The psychologist explained to David’sRead MoreMy Personal Developmental Theory, Nature Vs. Nurture812 Words   |  4 Pagesshape and influence development. My personal developmental theory consists of several tenets from theories such as, nature vs. nurture, systems and cognitive developmental theory. While there are many theories in lifespan development, and they are all relevant in the development of an individual I found these particular theories the most influential in my development. Nature vs. Nurture From a biological perspective, nature vs. nurture plays a critical role in the development of an individual. MeaneyRead MoreThe Theories Of Schizophreni Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, And Nature Vs. Nurture813 Words   |  4 PagesThe four theories that are behind the cause of schizophrenia as referenced in the PowerPoint are Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, and Nature vs. Nurture / More than one cause. 1. Dopamine Definition Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is one of the chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals between the neurons of the brain. However, very few of those neurons actually produce dopamine. (psychologytoday.com) Theory The main theory concerning dopamine is that too much it canRead More Nature vs Nurture: Genes vs Environment Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction A debate between psychologist, scientists and philosopher thinkers on the spectrum of ‘nature vs. nurture’ arose concerning human development. In the nature versus nurture debate, the term nature refers to the genes we inherit while the term nurture refers to our outside environment (Nature vs. Nurture: Twin and Adoption Studies). This debate of ‘nature vs. nurture’ has existed for centuries and up to now it is still a topic of major discussion although at present time. Human developmentRead MoreSerial Killers1314 Words   |  6 Pagestoday is the debate over nature versus nurture. With that debate going on there are many topics that are being researched under it, like serial killers, and what drives them to do what they do. Many scientists are still researching whether or not if serial killers are driven by the way they were raised or if it is a part of their genes. This literature review will analyze what people think about the nature versus nurture debate. It will talk about the nature side and the nurture side of the debate.