Sociology- Nature Versus Nurture - 1801 Words

Nature versus Nurture The roles of nature (what we genetically inherit) and or nurture (what we learn) in making us what we are have long been argued. The idea that humans are determined by these two influences dates back to the ancient Greek philosopher Protagorus who in the fifth century BC compared physics (nature) and nomos (tradition). It is however difficult to unravel the separate influences of nature and nurture. If the children of musically talented parents are themselves musically talent, is it because of genetic inheritance (nature) or because of a musical environment at home where they grow up(nurture)? The nature versus nurture debate concentrates on the question of how far our behavior is determined by nature at birth or†¦show more content†¦Jean Itard a physician tried to train the boy. After 3 months he seemed little more human. He more clothes learned to sit at a table, and eat wit6h utensils. He started to show human emotions such as joy, gratitude and remorse. He lived for a bout 40 years but he never learned to speak nor ever become a normal person. Similarly in one orphanage Spit found that infants who were about 18 months old were left lying on their backs in small cubical most of the day without any human contact. Within a year all had become physically mentally, emotionally and socially retarded. Two years later more than a third of the children had died. Those who survived could not speak, they could not walk, they could not dress up and they could not use spoon. This shows that children who received little attention/socialization suffered very noticeable effects. Various cases of unsocialized children also indicate that human behavior is something that has to be learned. Humans do not simply become able to do all things instinctually. For example Anna, from Pennsylvania, USA was an illegitimate child. Anna was kept hidden from the public in the attic. She was just fed enough to keep her alive, she was neither touched nor bathed, and she simply la y still in her own filth. She was discovered in 1938 at the age of six. She looked like a skeleton. She was couldn’t talk nor walk. She did nothing but lay quietly in the ground her eyesShow MoreRelatedSociology- Nature Versus Nurture1816 Words   |  8 PagesNature versus Nurture The roles of nature (what we genetically inherit) and or nurture (what we learn) in making us what we are have long been argued. The idea that humans are determined by these two influences dates back to the ancient Greek philosopher Protagorus who in the fifth century BC compared physics (nature) and nomos (tradition). It is however difficult to unravel the separate influences of nature and nurture. If the children of musically talented parents are themselves musicallyRead MoreSocialisation2063 Words   |  9 Pagesprocess of learning and represents a new developmental stage; this occurs between the individual and people in their life with whom they have secondary relationships. This is necessary because it represents the way individuals start to learn about the nature of the social world beyond their primary contacts; this includes learning what is classed as acceptable or appropriate behaviour with a small group. The transition from infancy to childhood to adolescence and adult hood are all accompanied by a socialisationRead MoreNature vs Nurture: Do Genes Or Environment Matter More? Essay1037 Words   |  5 Pageswill be forever or if the society they grow in creates all of their attributes. This nature versus nurture debate affects many aspects of life, including the treatment of serial killers and psychopaths, and recognition of emotional and mental disorders, the acceptance of homosexuality, and even video game regulation. The nature theory states that only a person’s genes develop their personality, while the nurture theory states that personality is developed only because of the impact of societyRead MoreEnduring Issues797 Words   |  4 PagesCharmaine Williams Professor Gordon Sociology January 21, 2015 The five enduring issues that draw Psychologists together are person versus situation, heredity versus environment, or nature versus nurture, stability versus change, diversity versus universality, and mind versus body. Each of these issues pertain in one or more ways in a person’s life, although not everyone is aware so it is not really something we pay attention to unless we really have to. These issue together are the issuesRead MoreThe Nurture Versus Nature Debate1743 Words   |  7 PagesThe nurture versus nature debate is commonly seen as one of the most important issues in psychology. It is assuredly one of the best researched, with various studies dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Two schools of individual difference theorists clearly differ in their approach to this question. The first school of thought, implanted in social psychology and sociology, claims that the environment is of principal importance in determining how individuals behave. For the se theoristsRead More Nature vs Nurture Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pages Nature or Nurture? The Determination of Human Behaviour The nature versus nurture debate has spanned over decades, and is becoming more heated in the recent years. Following the mapping of the human genome, scientists are pursuing the possibility of controlling human behaviour such as homicidal tendencies or insanity through the manipulation of genes. Is this possible for us to ensure that humans behave in certain ways under certain circumstances in future? This is highly doubtful, as the determinationRead MoreLife Span Perspective Essay1187 Words   |  5 Pagesbecome based on many different factors. The hope is that one can always change and correct choices that have been made or nurture them. Multi-disciplinary is another characteristic of development which pertains to all the fields that can be used to study human development and collect data (Berger). These fields include but are not limited to psychology, biology, sociology, anthropology, neuroscience, economics, religion, history, medicine, genetics and others. Multi-contextual aspects refer toRead MoreThe Tempest By William Shakespeare1620 Words   |  7 PagesFerdinand’s wife, making her queen of Naples. There are a couple of relationships of Prospero’s between other characters to go into demonstrate the flip in the hierarchy of power related to themes such as rebellion, judgement, truth versus lying, and nature versus nurture. Prospero’s relationship with his daughter throughout the play is to be discussed. Miranda is introduced at the start of scene two in Act One, within her first dialogue she asks her father to stop the storm which she has judged basedRead MoreOrganizational Effectiveness And What Emotional Intelligence984 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent components. I simply thought organizational effectiveness was a fancy way to say how successful a company was. I did not know it involved so many (what nurses would call) â€Å"soft science† components. I am referring to the psychology, sociology, and even anthropology. This makes me very intrigued. I have enjoyed all of those classes in my undergrad and to hear them brought up again makes me feel like a sponge waiting to absorb the material. I have heard the term locus of control severalRead More Nature v. Nurture in Mark Twains Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins2229 Words   |  9 PagesNature v. Nurture in Mark Twains Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins What makes a person who they are is a difficult dilemma. Mark Twains novel, Puddnhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins is a critical analysis of how nature and nurture can cultivate emotions and free will, which in turn affects the life of individuals. Twains faltering sense of direction began about slavery, moral decay, and deceptive realities (Kaplan 314). The debate of `nature versus nurture has been