The Nature-Nurture Debate

The nature-nurture controversy is a debate that has been popular for quite some time. This debate involves whether human behavior and personality traits are caused by genetic disposition or by the environment. Those who believe that nature is the cause for characteristics and behaviors think that these aspects are genetically inherited. They believe that their genes already have a predisposition for certain characteristics that are both physical and behavioral. People who are on the nurture side of the debate believe that behavior is a result of environmental influences and that is learned after conception.

Not only do people look and sound different, but our personalities, experiences, and backgrounds are also all different as well. Advocates of the nature side of the debate believe that genes interact “with our experiences to create both our universal human nature and our individual and social diversity” (Meyers, 2008). On the other hand, those who believe that nurture shapes our behavior think that external influences are the reason for our diverse personalities.

The nature-nurture debate has increasingly gained more popularity in the last few decades. Scientists want to know the evolutionary roots of human behavior, and their curiosity has peaked with recent discoveries of genes for certain behaviors. A controversial factor in the debate can be attributed to religious beliefs. For instance, those who are nature advocates in the nature vs. nurture debate could argue that a person’s personality and predisposition are determined at conception, which is an act of a higher power. Those who lean on the nurture side would disagree since they believe that people are a product of their environment to some extent. They believe that a person’s eye color, hair color, and shoe size are determined by genes, but their personality and behavior are molded by their environment and their individual experiences.

There have been numerous studies regarding the nature-nurture controversy. In one study, more than 800 sets of twins both identical and fraternal were studied by researchers from Edinburgh University. They wanted to know whether or not genetics or upbringing has a greater effect on how successful people are in life and how their traits can contribute to overcoming challenges. In the study, participants were asked a series of questions about how they perceive themselves and others, such as "are you influenced by people with strong opinions?" Their answers were applied to a psychological scale to figure out their personality traits. The results of this study showed that “identical twins were twice as likely as non-identical twins to share the same personality traits, suggesting that their DNA was having the greatest impact” (Collins, 2012). Researchers concluded that genetics strongly influences wellbeing, self-control, and a sense of purpose. In other words, they believe that genes are a major factor in whether or not someone will be successful. This seems rather preposterous because they are concluding that a person who is born from an alcoholic mother will be doomed for the rest of their life.

Another study on nature-nurture involved whether or not homosexuality was biologically determined or not. In 1957, Karen Hooker studied homosexuals and heterosexuals in the first psychological test of its kind. Both groups were “matched for age, intelligence quotient (IQ) and education level, and were then subjected to three psychological tests. These three tests, the Rorschach, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and the Make-A-Picture-Story Test (MAPS), were then analyzed by psychologists, and the results were tabulated” (Johnson, 2003). The results showed that there was not a correlation between social determinism of sexuality, and homosexuality was no longer considered to be a mental illness by the APA.

Both of these studies are compelling, but they do not give clear answers to the nature-nurture debate. The first study does not seem to be professional, and the responses to the questions that were asked do not seem to prove anything. The second study also does not seem to be very conclusive, although the outcome was appropriate. These two studies prove that the debate will go on for some time rather than settled completely.

References

Collins, N. (2012, May 16). It's nature, not nurture: personality lies in genes, twins study shows. The Telegraph. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9267147/Its-nature-not-nurture-personality-lies-in-genes-twins-study-shows.html

Johnson, R. D. (2003, April 30). Homosexuality: Nature or nurture. AllPsych Journal. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://allpsych.com/journal/homosexuality.html

Myers, D. G. (2008). Exploring psychology (9th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.