“Parenting is the number
one influence on a child’s
success or failure in life.”
A psychological analysis of the nature vs. nurture
argument. Were we born the way we are, or is it the
way we were raised?
By Payton Young
Nature
Nurture
• People in favor of the
nature argument have an
assumption that the
characteristics of humans
as a whole are from
evolution. We have traits
because our genes force
us to.
• People in favor of the
nurture argument believe
that behavior, emotions,
thoughts all come from
how you were treated as a
child and how you were
taught.
What is Nature vs. Nurture?
The most compelling research done for the
nature argument is studies done on twins.
Twins have the same DNA so they are
perfect for studying whether your behavior is
encoded in your DNA, or is taught by your
parents and experiences.
Nature Research
The research has come out with some consistent data. Most
of the time, when identical twins are reared apart as babies,
they end up having very similar likes, dislikes, favorite
color, etc. However, these results may be skewed due to the
fact that many studies leave out key information that
slightly disproves the theory being proved by the study.
Nature cont.
In recent years there has been increasing evidence for a
“gay gene”. It is supposed to predetermine the sexual
orientation of a person before they are born. This supports
the Nature theory in the nature vs. nurture argument
because it says that your sexual orientation is determined by
a gene instead of your environment.
More nature
One very interesting argument in favor of the nurture
argument is Albert Bandura’s bobo doll experiment. In the
experiment, an adult would positively or negatively
reinforce violence against a bobo doll. Bandura believed
that aggression and other traits were adopted by children
observing their environment, trying things, and receiving
either positive, or negative reinforcement.
Nurture Research
Bandura believed that aggression and other traits were
adopted by children observing their environment, trying
things, and receiving either positive, or negative
reinforcement. This reinforcement theory is a key point in
the nurture argument. It is the theory that children do
what they see other people doing.
Nurture cont.
With a recent study done on many different cultures, the so
called “Gay gene” is being denounced. Dr. Neil Whitehead
and Briar Whitehead did a study on 79 different cultures
and 29 of them were reported to have very little or no
homosexuality at all. Also, in 1970 a reported 10% of
homosexuals said they were “born that way” and in 1980 it
changed dramatically to 35%.
More Nurture
The more convincing research is nurture. In Bandura’s
experiment, the evidence was much more convincing and
almost instantaneous in effect. The children were shown
an adult beating a doll, the child copied the action, the
child was given positive reinforcement, and the child
knew to repeat the action. In my opinion, this settles the
debate.
Nurture Wins
In the twin studies done by various psychologists, there is
some evidence for the nature argument, consisting of the
similarities between identical twins, even when reared
apart. However, the identical twins are still not exactly
alike and in some aspects of their lives, they are
completely different.
Nature didn’t win
From my research doing this project I have concluded
that nurture wins and that your environment is the main
cause for things such as violence, drug abuse, etc.
Cunclusion
• http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/bandura.htm
(about Bandura’s bobo doll experiment)
http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html
(Helped with general info)
• http://www.conservapedia.com/Homosexuality_Statistics
(helped with gay stats)
Source