Heredity, the Environment, and Development
Among the most typical controversies in society these days is the one about nature as
opposed to nurture. When talking in terms of nature as opposed to nurture, heredity,
and the environment come into play. In regards to heredity and the environment, when
put together, differences in individual growth are experienced. Crucial to individual
growth are behavioral genetics, and the ways in which heredity and environment are
linked. There should be an account for environmental experiences which are nonshared as well as the part performed in growth in an individual. This part is therefore the
genetic structure which is inherited from the individual’s moms and dads, and the social
communications, and collective experiences which come forward from the individual’s
day to day surroundings. Genetics as well as environment affect human growth since
intelligence as well as acquisition of societal tools are gained by the person.
The reason of how environment as well as heredity interrelate to generate individual
differences in growth has a relatively, lengthy background. A few would debate that
heredity performs a greater part in growth because heredity has a role in one’s birth.
But, socialization as well as growth are crucial to development as well. Environment
assists to develop qualities, some social norms, as well as values of the individual
person. In addition to that, everything in this world as well as the surroundings, make
people who they are (International Journal of Human and Medical Genetics, 1969). This
can also be observed in the study of the twin babies (known as the Minnesota Twin
study). These twin babies were brought up on an individual basis, and even though their
biology linked them, being brought up in different surroundings would have performed a
crucial role, however it did not (Flanagan, 2002).
The field of Behavioral genetics has been stated to be a tough one mainly because
behaviors quite often are involved with a lot of genes. Due to the complexity of this,
searches for genetic contributions have become flawed. The field continues to analyze
conducts as well as genes of a lot of populations as well as families since in case the
environment changes, in that case many times so does heritability.
Behavioral Genetics
The field of behavioral genetics utilizes heredity to describe individual conducts since it
pertains to genetics. An equal significance is put on the influence which the environment
has on genetic behaviors. As per Baker (2004), “People working in the field of
behavioral genetics agree that genes and environments are both essential and
interdependent factors in behavior (Chapter 1, p. 5).” Studies have also indicated that in
addition to genetics influencing conduct, genetics may also influence the environment. A
visible pattern of persons with high IQ ratings will impact their child’s genetic makeup as
well as provide an environment congruent to further influence the child’s IQ. This trend
is also observed in kids brought up in an aggressive environment. On top of that they
have got the inherited quality of aggression from one or both of their parents, their
aggressive surroundings also impact their conduct (Boyd & Bee, 2009).
As per Boyd et al. (2009), “Behavior genetics have shown that heredity affects a broad
range of traits and behaviors, including intelligence, shyness, and aggressiveness
(Chapter 2, p. 41).” A lot of studies have involved both identical twin babies, which are
helpful in comparing and contrasting genes as well as fraternal twin babies to compare
environmental effects. Behavioral genetics continues to be an expanding field in
describing personal conduct and has also been utilized to study fatness, addiction,
intelligence, as well as psychological problems when it comes to genetics.
Heredity and Environment
Heredity as well as the environment are linked and the evidence can be demonstrated
in a number of ways. The connection between environment as well as genetics is
substantial. “There is essentially no dimension of behavior which is not both
environmentally and genetically influenced.” (Satinover, 2010, para. 1).
One of many ways a connection between heredity as well as environment can be
observed is through genes which code for an individual being tall, having athletic
abilities, such as quick reflexes, possibility of weight by way of metabolism, muscle
strength and energy. While there is certainly no genetic code resulting in an individual
being an all-star athlete, “these qualities, however, certainly facilitate that choice.”
(Satinover, 2010, para. 4). Environment would perform a part in case athleticism was
motivated, trained as well as appreciated in a child’s life and upbringing.
Neurological illnesses such as schizophrenia as well as bi-polar disorder have a number
of genetic origins which interact with environmental factors. The way in which this can
be explained is by first admitting that these types of disorders have genetic
components. It's quite common with one that has these types of illnesses to have other
family members with the same problems; since one has a sickness does not necessarily
mean that others will, however, there is susceptibility. The environmental factor comes
in since schizophrenic and bi-polar qualities and episodes are more prone to happen
with particular environmental situations where stress comes into play.
Problem drinking or alcoholism also has a genetic as well as environmental component.
“Evidence remains that when a gene or set of genes are present in an individual or
family there is a much higher risk for serious alcoholism.” (Satinover, 2010, para. 4). In
case the genetic part is present in a person, together with the environment, in that case
alcoholism is more likely. The environment may be brought up around alcohol regularly
by continuously seeing a mom or dad drunk or drinking or being explained that alcohol
is valuable. Being inspired to drink in a family or peer group is yet another pressing
environmental aspect.
Shared and Non-Shared Environmental
Experiences
Environmental experiences are a big impact on growth in kids. These types of
experiences are categorized as shared or non-shared based on the situation. Shared
environmental experiences are any experience which a kid shares with other people
and experiences which they may have in common (Genes & Environment, 2010).
Instances of shared environmental experiences would be brothers and sisters sharing
the same home, neighborhood, as well as school. In these experiences everybody goes
through whatever happens in the environment. For example, in case the family is
experiencing poverty, in that case everybody shares this experience. In case brothers
and sisters go to the same school, they might have the same teacher; as a result will
both experience the same teaching manner.
On the contrary, non-shared environmental experiences are experiences exceptional to
just one individual and aren't shared with anybody else (Genes & Environment, 2010).
An instance of non-shared environmental experiences is: sharing same family but
getting different treatment. For that reason, the different treatment would be exceptional
to the kid. One more example would be going to same school but might have different
teachers or residing in the same area and having different buddies. All of these
experiences would be exceptional to each kid.
The part that these two experiences may play on growth may differ accordingly. In a
shared environmental experience, it is thought that since brothers and sisters share an
experience they will be similar. But, this isn't correct. Shared influences don't
necessarily have to lead individuals to be similar. There are two reasons which support
this concept. One reason is the gene-environment interaction, in which the same
environment experience may have different influence on different people based on the
features of the individual. For instance two kids experience divorce between their moms
and dads, one kid could become rebellious and the other might decide not to cause
more problems within the family. Another reason is where the brother or sister actually
attempts to be different in response to similar environment. For instance, twin babies
brought up by parents who deal with them the same and try everything collectively, but;
one attempts very hard to differ from the other. Both environmental experiences
influence growth in kids both positively as well as adversely based on the experience.
Kids sharing poverty and lack of nutrition in the same family will experience slow
growth. Shared environmental experiences (nature), involve all the effects which
happen in the family that causes kids to keep family similarities with time. A non-shared
experience influenced in one’s family of origin plays a role in growth in childhood years
as well as adolescence, while shared experiences affected in one's family of destination
might contribute a great deal to growth in adulthood (Caspi&Herbener, 1992).
Conclusion
The controversy between nature against nurture continues to exist in today’s world, but
heredity as well as the environment interact together to generate individual variations in
the growth of persons. The environment assists to develop the qualities, norms, as well
as values of a person, whereas heredity is the genetic construction of oneself passed
down from the individual’s parents. Several psychology scientists are in agreement that
heredity as well as environment both perform significant parts in the growth of
individuals but; they might disagree to the extent in which heredity as well as the
environment contribute to the development of a specific dimension. This is where the
field of behavioral genetics, the connection between heredity as well as the
environment, and the shared and non-shared environmental experiences and the part
they play, come in and assist describe how heredity as well as the environment interact
in growth.