reflective essay about nature and nurture

Reflection On Nature Vs Nurture

It was several weeks ago, that the class discussed the polarized concept of nature vs. nurture, by which nature refers to one’s inclination to rely on natural instinct or self-interest to determine their future as opposed to nurture in which one relies on the care and influence of family. Dr. Miller challenged us to consider the ratio in which nature and nurture determine our actions. I self-concluded a rough 3:1 ratio where the nurturing effects by friends and family determined a majority of my actions. I now realize that for a majority of my life my choices were heavily influenced by those closest to me with only rarely taking a moment to know what I wanted. In my childhood I took great influence from my older brother by going into the same …show more content…

In this essay, the author

It was my chemistry teacher that influenced me into majoring in Chemistry. In my freshmen year of college, when my roommates asked if I wanted to go somewhere or do something my typical response was “Sure, I don’t care.” I had almost always let others choose my actions. After reading the AFAM 2000 autobiographies this semester, I realized the weakness behind such reliance on outside influence. From the readings, it was typically a forced disconnect from family and childhood friends, or a willful disconnect in the case of Anne Moody, that set a future path to reliance on their own nature. Reliance on self and natural instinct allowed their path for truth and equality to be determined by themselves and themselves only. Such a reliance, more developed by experience, proved to be a powerful force in their quest for mass influence. In the words of Kendrick Lamar, "I spent the first twenty-three years of my life searching for answers, till one day I realized I had to come up with my own." I realize now that though the influence of friends, family, teachers might be beneficial in progressing my life, I must not make it what they are a part of

Personal Reflection on Nature vs. Nurture Debate Argumentative Essay

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Nature Versus Nurture

The psychological concept that I will be discussing and explaining is the nature vs. nurture debate/question. The reason that I have chosen this topic is because I am very interested in how long the debate has been going on. I also wanted to research it further to explorehow it affected the way I grew up andimpactedthe personthat I am today. People need to realize that this is a very important debate/question because it applies in everybody’s life, because this is what determines the type of behavior and personality that you have. “Nature vs. nurture is probably the developmental question that gets the most attention” Charlton, Sobel & Sobel, 2018, p. 132).

You can see why thistopicinterests meso much.It is aquestion that gets tons of attention throughout the psychological world. It is debated nationally among psychologists,and I wanted to learnmore about it and be able to understand it,so I could apply it to my own life and experience. Everybody should want to learn more about this debate because it plays a big role onwho you are today. The nature vs. nurture question is a debate on how the changes that we go through during life areeither based on genetics or environmental factors (132). A lot of people seem to think that it is either one or the other, but as time has gone on and people have done further research on it, they are starting to realize that it is most likely a mix of both. There are two core concepts ofthis psychological topic, they are nature and nurture.The first one is nature, which is described that“human behaviors, attitudes, and personalities are the result of innate biological or genetic factors” (Garcia, 2013, p. 1).

In other words,the waywe act,and different aspects of our personality is a direct result of ourgenetics. The nature side of the debate believes that who you are cannot be changed because you born with it. Whatever genes that your parents passed down are what makes you who you are. For example, if somebody is very shy and has a timid personality, the nature side would say that they were born that way and they must have inherited a gene for being shy and timid. The other core concept is known as nurture, which is described as “the behaviors, attitudes, and personalities that result from life experiences and experiential learning” (p. 1).

In other words, our actions and personalities are changed and shaped fromthings we have experienced within our lives,and the effect that the environment has had on us. The nurture side believes that no matter what genes you are born with, they can be changed depending how and where you are raised. For example, a kid who grew up with very loving and caring parents that always provided for himwilllikelybecomea loving and caring personas he grows olderbecause thatis what he saw when we weregrowing up. Depending on how you were raised and the type of environment that you were raised in results in the type of person you will become.The nature vs. nurture debate is applicable in my own life because it has helped me better understand who I am and how I got to become the way that I am.

For example, I am a very shy and reserved person which is the total opposite of my parents. I believeIexhibit these behaviorsbecause I was nurtured to be this way. Growing up my parents were strict, and I was always punished if I did something bad or wrong. By them parenting me this way I believe it shaped me to bequiet and shy becauseI did not want to get in trouble and I knew that there were consequences for breaking the rules.Another way that this is applicable in my life is my sister. She was raised by the same parents as I was and under the same circumstances. The difference isshe is very outgoing and loud just like my parents. Even though she was raised in the same environment as me we are two different peoplewith two very different personalities.

I think this has to do with nature. By comparing both my sister’s personality andmy own personality,it allowed me to realize that both nature and nurture play a role in the development of someone. You cannot simply say it is nature or nurture.Instead, I believe it is combinationof aspects from both nature and nurture. This is proven by my own life.I am shy and reservedbecause of how I was raised, but my sister even though was raised the same as me is very outgoing and bold. The nurture side had more of an effect on me growing up whilethe nature side had more of an effect on my sister growing up.

One challenge to the nature vs. nurture debate is that there has not yet been proven evidencefoundsuggestingthat behavior and personality is based on 100% genetics or 100% environmental factors. “Human behavior and personality are most likely the result of a complex interplay between genetics and environment” (Garcia, 2013, p. 1). Unless evidence is foundprovingthat our behavior and personality is based 100% on either nature or nurture then this long debate will continue.I believe a big part of this challenge comes from people not wanting to admit that our behavior and personality is partly due to both nature and nurture.

I feel like they know inside them that it is a mix of both but just do not want to admit it.The biggest challenge to this topic is the extremists on both sides. You have the people who are only on the nature side and believe in nothing but that, and then you have the people on the nurture side who believe nothing but that side. Since they are extremists,they will not hear what the other side even has to say therefore not seeing it from any other point of view besides their own.Because of these people who only strongly believe in nature or nurture make it hard to say it is a mix because they will not budge on where they stand.

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Reflective Essay: The Role of Nature and Nurture in the Formation of our Personalities

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Initially, the main question that I was interested in was what plays a bigger role in the formation of our personalities: nature or nurture. It was common sense to me that both nature and nurture played a huge role but what I wanted to know is if some of our characteristics can be predetermined from our birth, based off the line of genetics that has been passed down for generations? Or is it more dependent on the environment that we were raised in, based off certain critical or influential moments. These contrasting questions were spurred by a mere curiosity of how people work. The whole concept of why people act the way they do has always intrigued me. But I soon realized that this question was just too broad to cover the wide expanse of topics it could cover. I found myself having trouble finding works that were useful as they were just too general and ambiguous, and ultimately led me to wonder if I could even write an eight to ten page paper. However after researching this topic more in depth and from specific standpoints, including scientific studies using genetic testing, statistics and other quantitative research; analytical studies based on the work of psychologists, philanthropists and more; I am no longer spurred only by a mere curiosity. I have learned that over my research that this question is much deeper and more relevant than I had ever thought. These question can be related to a wide variety of topics including the LGBTQ community and whether it is possible due be born homosexual due to a “gay gene” that researchers have linked; substance abuse and why children of those with alcoholic or drug abuse tendencies are more likely to also have them; depression and if some people have a greater chance of being depressed due to chemical imbalances of hormones in the brain that are passed by genetic; and the list only goes on. With these new questions in mind finding relevant works became easier as I was looking for more specific details that served my purpose. Now, I have no doubt that I can not only write an eight to ten page paper but also learn about topics that are big issues in our world today. Overall my research has given my a new perspective on how people really work and I look forward to researching more in depth about it.

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Reflection Paper On Nature Vs Nurture

Show More Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes; when studying psychology one area that seems to always be important and in the foreground is nature vs. nurture. The reason why I find the ideology of nature vs. nurture important is because it has been the foundation for this class since the first day of the semester. Throughout the year, I changed my opinions on which of the two were more important, as though I was pinning one against the other. It was for this reason, it seems appropriate to end the semester reflecting over how much are we actually influence not only by one or the other, but how both play a significant role in our daily lives. This should also not be the case for humans, but for other species. Understanding how the …show more content… Around the middle of the semester I changed my viewpoint believing nurture might have a more influencing in shaping who we might become. Since most people normally associated with people who are similar to them, changes of personality and mentality are swayed to be more like each other’s. I mainly notice this when observing how my friend group had transformed after choosing my major. The friends I now socialize with leads me to make a decision I normally would not have made before. A great example of how this has been done in psychology study is through conformity. The definition of conformity is, “there is a change in behavior, belief, or both to conform to a group norm as a result of real imaged group pressure” (Book 354). A great example of this showing how nurture greatly influences a person is the Sherif Study. Participants were placed in a dark room and ask how the light had moved. The first time the participants did the test they were alone, while for the rest of the test they were with two other people and could hear each talk. During the first test the average estimate differed greatly from each person, but the group came together that answer became more of a group norm (Book 354). Though this example may not seem to fit in the nurture category fully, the definition for nurture states, to be influenced through environment and experience. This …show more content… Though we learned about behaviorism towards the middle of the year, it was not until looking back over the semester that I realize how nature and nurture both a role with this. The idea of fight or flight can be seen as being part of nature, from a young age the mechanism to survive has been encoded in our DNA, for this reason Albert hearing a loud noise would cause him to be terrified and respond in either trying to fight off the danger or try to get away. It is from this idea that John Watson can then influence the nurture aspect and make Albert afraid of the mouse. Through using the loud noise and presenting the mouse to Albert. Albert, associate the mouse with the loud noise and becomes terrified of the mouse, even if he was not before. As a result of conditioning Albert to be afraid, the nature aspect of his brain tells him to get away from the mouse to ensure that he is not in danger. As a result of the experiment we see how both nature and nurture play a role. Nature in keeping Albert safe, though is fight or flight response, while nurture being Watts and changing Albert perspective into being afraid of the

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Human Nature Versus Nurture: a Reflection

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Nature Versus Nurture

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Essay Sample: Nature Versus Nurture

26 March, 2020

7 minutes read

Author: Kate Smith

This sample is a great example of the compare and contrast essay writing. It presents two points of view on what influences the development of a personality the most - genetics or environmental factors. Don't hesitate to read it to see what such a type of essay should look like when written professionally!

Nature and nurture is a hotly contested argument concerning what influences the behavior and personality attributes of individuals. Nature is entirely dependent on the genetic combination of an individual which dictates their character and appearance. On the other hand, nurture is dependent on the environmental factors that an individual gets exposed to which end up shaping his or her personality. Nature and nurture influence individuals to a certain extent because individuals get exposed to both of them in one way or the other dictating their development process.

Nature principle holds that biological characteristics of individuals get inherited from the genetic makeup in their lineage. Character traits such as height, weight, vulnerability to certain illnesses and skin complexion are inherited and determined by the genetic combination of individuals. Such biological combination is usually similar amongst individuals who are blood relatives, and for this reason, they tend to have almost a uniform genetic combination. Moreover, other behavioral, mental and personality attributes are also a reflection of our genetic makeup and usually inherited from individuals’ close blood relatives (Kong et al. 2018). Through the traits, it is easier to identify closely related individuals just by looking at their appearance and conduct.

Besides, specific characteristics do not become evident during birth, and when a person reaches a certain age, for instance, during puberty, that is when the hidden attributes begin showing up. The biological clock guides such characteristics, and when the right time comes, the physical and behavioral attributes mature and become conspicuous. Such traits get programmed in a way that for them to grow visible, they will take a certain period to develop. Moreover, they are also dependent on other biological factors within our bodies for them to manifest. However, the traits still maintain the genetic combination and the similarity of a specific lineage.

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On the contrary, through nurture, an individual acquires specific attributes from the environment that surrounds them. When a child is born, for instance, its mind is black and empty. It is through its interaction with the surrounding and the people around it that will make the infant acquire some of their traits through learning, observation and aping their conducts. In other words, nurturing is dependent on the environment, experience, and learning as the individual interacts with the environment with time (Vazsonyi, Roberts, Huang & Vaughn, 2015). The way an individual was nurtured or brought up will influence their aspect of child development. Maturation will only affect biological development. The environment plays a vital role in the development process.

Similarly, the type of relationships also plays a crucial role in the nurturing, especially during child development. For instance, an infant develops an emotional attachment to its parents because of the love and affection it receives. Moreover, children who are given proper care and affection will reciprocate the same while growing up. On the contrary, infants who receive harsh treatment from their parents will develop withdrawal symptoms while growing up. Also, the infants also try and learn how and what to talk by studying the speech of those around them. The cognitive development comes from the exposer that the infant receives and conditions surrounding it.

Correspondingly, certain traits are acquired based on what an individual went through. Children who got abused or molested when growing up develop specific antisocial characteristics, for instance, being high tempered, harsh and develops particular disorders. For example, bipolar disorders manifest because an individual underwent harsh treatment which affects their psychological stability after that. Some of them become abusers and molesters in their future relationships as a way of imitating and justifying what they experienced while growing up. Imitation is a way of implementing what the individual has learned during the nurturing process by putting the lessons into practice.

Striking a Balance

However, after careful analysis, psychologists have discovered that both nature and nurture are responsible for the development of an individual. Both factors interact with each other and play a crucial role in shaping up the conduct of an individual (Lux, 2014). For example, in psychopathology, it is argued that both hereditary factors and environmental conditions contribute to the development of mental disorders in individuals. The biological combinations of people closely interact with the socio-cultural set up surrounding them. Individuals are now left to make their own choices in dictating what is suitable for them and what should be left out. Nature and nurture complement each other in shaping an individual.

Conclusively, nature and nurture are broiling discussion, and both sides have valid points to justify their stands. Nature is purely based on the fact that genetic makeup influence how an individual behaves and thinks. Similarly, the natives hold that genetic factors dictate factors such as the appearance, particular illness, and intelligence levels. On the contrary, individuals who believe in nurturing hold that environmental factors are majorly involved in the development process of individuals. Children acquire traits through learning from the people surrounding them and will try to imitate the behavior after that. However, psychologists are trying their level best to strike a balance between the two school of thoughts since both sides hold valid arguments, but both nurture and nature interact with each other during the development process. Nature and nurture cannot get treated in isolation.

Lux, V. (2014). Nature and nurture. Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology , 1225-1231.

Kong, A., Thorleifsson, G., Frigge, M. L., Vilhjalmsson, B. J., Young, A. I., Thorgeirsson, T. E., … & Gudbjartsson, D. F. (2018). The nature of nurture: Effects of parental genotypes. Science , 359 (6374), 424-428.

Vazsonyi, A. T., Roberts, J. W., Huang, L., & Vaughn, M. G. (2015). Why focusing on nurture made and still makes sense: The biosocial development of self-control. The Routledge international handbook of biosocial criminology , 263-280.

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Reflective Essay About Nature and Nurture: Personality and Intelligence Perspective

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