essay nature vs nurture

Bipolar Disorder
Race and Identity
Stress Management
Brain Health
Relationships
Online Therapy
History and Biographies
Student Resources
Sleep and Dreaming
Self-Improvement
Mental Strength
Family & Relationships
Anxiety & Depression
Coronavirus
Mental Health
Verywell Mind Insights
The Winter Issue
Editorial Process
Meet Our Review Board
Crisis Support

The Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Genetic and Environmental Influences and How They Interact

Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.

Nature refers to how genetics influence an individual's personality, whereas nurture refers to how their environment (including relationships and experiences) impacts their development. Whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in personality and development is one of the oldest philosophical debates within the field of psychology .

Learn how each is defined, along with why the issue of nature vs. nurture continues to arise. We also share a few examples of when arguments on this topic typically occur, how the two factors interact with each other, and contemporary views that exist in the debate of nature vs. nurture as it stands today.

Nature and Nurture Defined

To better understand the nature vs. nurture argument, it helps to know what each of these terms means.

A few biologically determined characteristics include genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color. Other characteristics are tied to environmental influences, such as how a person behaves, which can be influenced by parenting styles and learned experiences.

For example, one child might learn through observation and reinforcement to say please and thank you. Another child might learn to behave aggressively by observing older children engage in violent behavior on the playground.

The Debate of Nature vs. Nurture

The nature vs. nurture debate centers on the contributions of genetics and environmental factors to human development. Some philosophers, such as Plato and Descartes, suggested that certain factors are inborn or occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.

Advocates of this point of view believe that all of our characteristics and behaviors are the result of evolution. They contend that genetic traits are handed down from parents to their children and influence the individual differences that make each person unique.

Other well-known thinkers, such as John Locke, believed in what is known as tabula rasa which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate . According to this notion, everything that we are is determined by our experiences.

Behaviorism is a good example of a theory rooted in this belief as behaviorists feel that all actions and behaviors are the results of conditioning. Theorists such as John B. Watson believed that people could be trained to do and become anything, regardless of their genetic background.

People with extreme views are called nativists and empiricists. Nativists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of inheritance. Empiricists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics result from learning.

Examples of Nature vs. Nurture

One example of when the argument of nature vs. nurture arises is when a person achieves a high level of academic success . Did they do so because they are genetically predisposed to elevated levels of intelligence, or is their success a result of an enriched environment?

The argument of nature vs. nurture can also be made when it comes to why a person behaves in a certain way. If a man abuses his wife and kids, for instance, is it because he was born with violent tendencies, or is violence something he learned by observing others in his life when growing up?

Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology

Throughout the history of psychology , the debate of nature vs. nurture has continued to stir up controversy. Eugenics, for example, was a movement heavily influenced by the nativist approach.

Psychologist Francis Galton coined the terms 'nature versus nurture' and 'eugenics' and believed that intelligence resulted from genetics. Galton also felt that intelligent individuals should be encouraged to marry and have many children, while less intelligent individuals should be discouraged from reproducing.

The value placed on nature vs. nurture can even vary between the different branches of psychology , with some branches taking a more one-sided approach. In biopsychology , for example, researchers conduct studies exploring how neurotransmitters influence behavior, emphasizing the role of nature.

In social psychology , on the other hand, researchers might conduct studies looking at how external factors such as peer pressure and social media influence behaviors, stressing the importance of nurture. Behaviorism is another branch that focuses on the impact of the environment on behavior.

Nature vs. Nurture in Child Development

Some psychological theories of child development place more emphasis on nature and others focus more on nurture. An example of a nativist theory involving child development is Chomsky's concept of a language acquisition device (LAD). According to this theory, all children are born with an instinctive mental capacity that allows them to both learn and produce language.

An example of an empiricist child development theory is Albert Bandura's social learning theory . This theory says that people learn by observing the behavior of others. In his famous Bobo doll experiment , Bandura demonstrated that children could learn aggressive behaviors simply by observing another person acting aggressively.

Nature vs. Nurture in Personality Development

There is also some argument as to whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in the development of one's personality. The answer to this question varies depending on which personality development theory you use.

According to behavioral theories, our personality is a result of the interactions we have with our environment, while biological theories suggest that personality is largely inherited. Then there are psychodynamic theories of personality that emphasize the impact of both.

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Illness Development

One could argue that either nature or nurture contributes to mental health development. Some causes of mental illness fall on the nature side of the debate, including changes to or imbalances with chemicals in the brain. Genetics can also contribute to mental illness development, increasing one's risk of a certain disorder or disease.

Mental disorders with some type of genetic component include autism , attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder , major depression , and schizophrenia .

Other explanations for mental illness are environmental. This includes being exposed to environmental toxins, such as drugs or alcohol, while still in utero. Certain life experiences can also influence mental illness development, such as witnessing a traumatic event, leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health Therapy

Different types of mental health treatment can also rely more heavily on either nature or nurture in their treatment approach. One of the goals of many types of therapy is to uncover any life experiences that may have contributed to mental illness development (nurture).

However, genetics (nature) can play a role in treatment as well. For instance, research indicates that a person's genetic makeup can impact how their body responds to antidepressants. Taking this into consideration is important for getting that person the help they need.

Interaction Between Nature and Nurture

Which is stronger: nature or nurture? Many researchers consider the interaction between heredity and environment—nature with nurture as opposed to nature versus nurture—to be the most important influencing factor of all.

For example, perfect pitch is the ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without any reference. Researchers have found that this ability tends to run in families and might be tied to a single gene. However, they've also discovered that possessing the gene is not enough as musical training during early childhood is needed for this inherited ability to manifest itself.

Height is another example of a trait influenced by an interaction between nature and nurture. A child might inherit the genes for height. However, if they grow up in a deprived environment where proper nourishment isn't received, they might never attain the height they could have had if they'd grown up in a healthier environment.

A newer field of study that aims to learn more about the interaction between genes and environment is epigenetics . Epigenetics seeks to explain how environment can impact the way in which genes are expressed.

Some characteristics are biologically determined, such as eye color, hair color, and skin color. Other things, like life expectancy and height, have a strong biological component but are also influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle.

Contemporary Views of Nature vs. Nurture

Most experts recognize that neither nature nor nurture is stronger than the other. Instead, both factors play a critical role in who we are and who we become. Not only that but nature and nurture interact with each other in important ways all throughout our lifespan.

As a result, many in this field are interested in seeing how genes modulate environmental influences and vice versa. At the same time, this debate of nature vs. nurture still rages on in some areas, such as in the origins of homosexuality and influences on intelligence .

While a few people take the extreme nativist or radical empiricist approach, the reality is that there is not a simple way to disentangle the multitude of forces that exist in personality and human development. Instead, these influences include genetic factors, environmental factors, and how each intermingles with the other.

Schoneberger T. Three myths from the language acquisition literature . Anal Verbal Behav . 2010;26(1):107-31. doi:10.1007/bf03393086

National Institutes of Health. Common genetic factors found in 5 mental disorders .

Pain O, Hodgson K, Trubetskoy V, et al. Identifying the common genetic basis of antidepressant response . Biol Psychiatry Global Open Sci . 2022;2(2):115-126. doi:10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.07.008

Moulton C. Perfect pitch reconsidered . Clin Med J . 2014;14(5):517-9 doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.14-5-517

Levitt M. Perceptions of nature, nurture and behaviour . Life Sci Soc Policy . 2013;9:13. doi:10.1186/2195-7819-9-13

Bandura A, Ross D, Ross, SA. Transmission of aggression through the imitation of aggressive models . J Abnorm Soc Psychol. 1961;63(3):575-582. doi:10.1037/h0045925

Chomsky N. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax .

Galton F. Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development .

Watson JB. Behaviorism .

By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

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.

Note that our company provides academic writing help. You can buy a narrative essay (or any other type) written from scratch by our essay writer .

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.

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.

Best Essay Writing Services 2023

Student life can often be quite challenging because students have to deal with challenging college essay writing assignments. To facilitate the learning process, many services help you complete written work and get high scores. Now we will tell you about the best services that you can turn to and get high-quality papers. Essay Writing Service […]

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Nursing Research Paper Topics

Selecting an academic paper topic is a crucial step in the writing process. The variety of nursing research topics makes it challenging to find the appropriate paper theme. But if you choose a sound nursing research paper subject, it will contribute to a flawless thesis statement, using relevant resources, a smooth writing process, and impressive […]

Plagiarism checker

Writing help, paraphrasing tool, nature versus nurture essay.

Adoption , Child , Human Development , Natural Environment , Nature versus nurture , Neuroscience , Parent , Social Psychology

How it works

Nature versus nurture has been a debate that involves human behavior, and determiners whether it has to do with the environment one is born in or something that was inherited. Nature is often known as the hormone-based behaviors, genetics, disposition, and traits that have been inherited. Some kids get blue eyes from their parents, being able to play instruments and have an atheistic talent often comes for genes or traits pasted down from family members.

The biggest challenge in the nurture theory is that there is very little evidence of parents’ influence that actually affect the behavior and personality in adolescences says Harris and Rowe. E. Mavis Hetherington says that children showed earlier developmental problems when risk factors, such as perinatal damage under authoritative parenting. A study was done on adoptees with biological parents that have schizophrenic. The same study was done to adoptees that weren’t at rick of schizophrenic, but they were adopted into families that weren’t dysfunctional. Those children were at higher risk to develop a psychiatric disorder. Similar studies were done with children who had biological parents who had a criminality history. A child who was adopted into a functional family was only 12% at risk of showing criminal behavior in their adulthood. Compared to those who were adopted into a family that wasn’t functioning the percentage rose to 40%. “A third line of research attempts to provide a basis for examining instances in which parental behavior may exert in a causal influence in changing children’s behavior” (Collins, W. Andrew, et al). Proving that nurture does have a greater impact on children, and that the surroundings one grows up in can influence their whole life.

Behavior changes as we gown and learn. “Any scientific approach to the understanding of developmental change must assume that developmental outcomes are determined” (Waston). Developmental outcomes help determine the patterns for an individual. However, this does not determine the ability to predict the outcomes or patterns of the individual. All this depends on: biologically based and behavioral capacities, maturational growth, species-specific, current task demands, and any history of interactions with the environment. However, a lot of that have to do with nurture and not nature. We are born with 46 chromosomes that we inherit from each of our parents. These chromosomes are what determines if a baby is born with blue or brown eye, straight or curly hair, tall or short. The chromosome that have been inherited also determine what kinds of disease one may or may not have. Someone with down syndrome inherited an extra chromosome, the extra chromosome can result in development skills. Identical twins who were separated at birth still show a lot of similarities, and that happens with a lot of twins. That is because twins have all of their genes that same. Meaning that they will have a similar characteristic, even if the twins grow up in two different environments.

The tabula rasa, also known as the blank slate and that the mind is completely blank at birth. The things that give the mind it’s foundation are culture, parenting, socialization, and experience. “Man has no nature”. (Jose Ortega Y Gassett). Meaning that the traits a person was born with doesn’t have anything to do with their behavior and development process. Steven Pinker has a political appeal on blank slake and describes it as “we’re all equal”, that no one is born with more. Saying that people who have more than other often leads to discrimination and inequality. Steven Pinker goes on about how we prefect mankind being born with a blank slake, rather than being born with traits and “more of it”, that can lead the human race into violence, selfishness, and prejudice.

I was raised in a different environment than my older brother was. Being nurtured and taught wrong from right didn’t take me down the same path his at. Nurture to me is greater than nature. “the final expression of genetic predisposition is dependent on nurture” (Collins, W. Andrew, et al). Our genes may lay down the foundation we grow on, but nurture can influence those genes. In my second paragraph when with the studies that were done on the children who had been adopted into different environments, the nurture that a person gets determines who they are. If a child has been neglected and isn’t showed any care or is growing up with an unstable family, that child will show it. Development may be slower, the ability to make a connect with someone else wouldn’t be there and that is because they never had it as a child. Someone who is shy would be taken out other shell with the right people to influence them and encourage them. Nurture trump nature, nurture is who makes us who we are. Nurture has a bigger impact on children, the right parenting skills defines a child’s future. One can learn different skills; I wasn’t born with the ability to speak English. I learned English, with my surroundings and the influence those around me had.

The deadline is too short to read someone else's essay

Cite this page.

Nature Versus Nurture Essay. (2020, Aug 25). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/

"Nature Versus Nurture Essay." PapersOwl.com , 25 Aug 2020, https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/

PapersOwl.com. (2020). Nature Versus Nurture Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/ [Accessed: 3 Mar. 2023]

"Nature Versus Nurture Essay." PapersOwl.com, Aug 25, 2020. Accessed March 3, 2023. https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/

"Nature Versus Nurture Essay," PapersOwl.com , 25-Aug-2020. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/. [Accessed: 3-Mar-2023]

PapersOwl.com. (2020). Nature Versus Nurture Essay . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/nature-versus-nurture-essay/ [Accessed: 3-Mar-2023]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Make sure your essay is plagiarism-free or hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Plagiarized Text

Leave your email and we will send a sample to you., not finding what you need, search for essay samples now.

Having doubts about how to write your paper correctly?

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

Don't use plagiarized sources

Where do you want us to send this sample, attention this is just a sample..

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

How to write

Nature vs Nurture Essay

Our life has a lot of various aspects. Things that influence it may vary significantly. Some people don't bother with the nature of their behavior. They agree that they are the way they are because they are meant to be like this. It does bring some kind of peace to their hearts. But, on the other hand, it could have been easier for them to deal with some of their problems if they knew the reasons. Others choose something to believe in, whether it is genes responsible for their behavior or their life experiences. There are also people for whom defining the difference between nature and nurture has become the lifetime goal. Among them, many bright researchers have dedicated their lives to prove that one of the factors is more influential than the other. The clash of two opposite viewpoints started what we call nature vs nurture debate. Today, it has become one of the most exciting topics for research papers for everyone, including students.

What is Nature vs Nurture Debate?

It seems that nature vs nurture debate has been on for ages. One can explain its popularity and relevance with the fact that we have always wanted to know how we can become better as a society. An absolute answer, no matter what it is, would make our lives much easier. However, there is still no such answer because the spheres that the debate touches upon are very diverse. Students often get demotivated with the thought that this is one of the most controversial topics of academic papers. They may even ask ‘Why would people argue about something that wasn't solved for such a long time and will hardly be solved entirely in the future?' To make it clear, the question you should really ask is ‘What is nature vs nurture debate?' Is it a pointless argument? Ask yourself if all that people taking part in it want to prove is that they are right? From numerous findings that came to our attention since the debate began, we can see that it is not so.

Why Bother Writing a Nature Vs Nurture Essay

Like many other scholastic confrontations, the debate is the stimulus to progress for both sides. No one expects you to make another breakthrough in this area when you are still at college. The main aim of papers about nature vs nurture is to give you the gist of the topic and broaden your outlook. But who says you can't discover something valuable for you and your fellow students even at this stage of education? Hopefully, this idea will motivate you more than a mere desire to get a good grade.

The Length of the Nature Vs Nurture Essay

A student who has any experience as a paper writer knows that every paper has got three principal parts: an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The length of each part is predetermined by the type of the paper. In most cases, students have to write a nature vs nurture paper in the form of a five-paragraph essay. In this case, your introduction will have a single paragraph. So, you have to use this volume with the maximum effect and make every word meaningful.

What a Nature versus Nurture Essay Introduction Includes

The introduction is an essential section, in which you make the first impression on your reader. There are different kinds of essays, but if you choose nature versus nurture as your topic, the content of your introduction can be summarized to the following:

Giving the Background This part is the best one for a paper writer to come up with a concise answer to the question ‘What is nature vs nurture?' It will provide the background to any problem connected with the debate. Depending on the subject matter and the type of your essay, it can be the history of the debate, the most outstanding nature vs nurture examples, the insight into the current research, etc.

Sparkling the Interest When you read the tips on writing essays, you often come across the term ‘audience.' It is usually used to cheer you up because everyone understands that it is quite likely that the 'audience' of your essay will comprise of a single person - your teacher. Of course, some essays are read by a committee, others are declared in front of the whole class. But these cases are rather exceptions to the rule than the rule itself. Now, imagine how many similar essays your teacher reads every week. A good teacher never skips anything and is forced to read every paper to the end. But nobody can force a person to like neverending students' rambling about something they barely understand. So, there is no wonder that students often get lower grades than they expect. You really should attract the attention of the reader from the very beginning. Otherwise, your paper will end up in the C pile. A so-called hook may contain an interesting or a controversial fact, some surprising statistics, a rhetorical question, and so on.

The Thesis Your introduction should also include a clear thesis statement. No matter whether you are writing a five-paragraph essay or a longer paper, your thesis should be as concise as possible and, ideally, take a single sentence. For example, if you write an expository essay explaining what nature vs nurture is, you can phrase your thesis like this:

The dichotomy of these concepts has led to one of the biggest controversies in history that, in turn, produced a considerable amount of valuable data based on the difference between nature and nurture.

And here is an example of a thesis statement for a persuasive essay:

Although some personality traits are proven to be predetermined genetically, it is vital not to underestimate the importance of nurturing children because the consequences of such approach can be disastrous.

If you want to write an excellent nature vs nurture essay, you should take into consideration all its aspects. As the best nature vs nurture examples demonstrate, an excellent introduction contributes to the overall success of your essay significantly. Mastering the skills required to write it will increase your chances to get the highest grade for your essay. Our tips will help you a lot with that.

Nature Vs Nurture Essay

Nature is the influence of genetics or hereditary factors in determining the individual’s behavior. In other words, it is how natural factors shape the behavior or personality of an individual. In most cases, nature determines the physical characteristics which in effect influence the behavior of an individual. Physical characteristics such as physical appearance, type of voice and sex which are determined by hereditary factors influences the way people behave. Nurture on the other is the upbringing of an individual according to the environmental conditions. That is, the way individuals are socialized. Basically, nurture is the influence of environmental factors on an individual’s behavior. According to this paradigm, an individual’s behavior can be conditioned depending on the way one would like it to be. Often, individuals’ behaviors are conditioned by the socio-cultural environmental factors. It is because of socio-cultural environmental conditions that the differences in the behavior of individuals occur. Nature determines individual traits that are hereditary. In other words, human characteristics are determined by genetic predispositions which are largely natural. Hereditary traits are normally being passed from the parents to the offspring. They include characteristics that determine sex and physical make up. According to natural behaviorists, it is the genes that will determine the physical trait an individual will have. These are encoded on the individuals DNA. Therefore, behavioral traits such as sexual orientation, aggression, personality and intelligence are also encoded in the DNA. However, scientists believe that these characteristics are evolutionary. That is, they change over time depending on the physical environment adaptability. Evolutionary scientists argue that changes in genes are as a result of mutations which are caused by environmental factors. Thus, natural environment determines individual characteristics which are genetically encoded in the DNA. Conversely, individuals possess traits that are not naturally determined. These are characteristics that are learnt rather than being born with. These are traits which largely determined by the socio-cultural environmental factors or the way the individuals are socialized within the society depending on the societal values. These traits are learnt as an individual develops and can easily be changed by the socio-cultural environment where the individual is currently staying. These characteristics include temperament, ability to master a language and sense of humor. Behavioral theorists believe that these traits can be conditioned and altered much like the way animal behavior can be conditioned. From the discussion it can be deduced that individuals’ traits are determined by hereditary genes and at the same time can be natured. There are those traits that cannot be changed in an individual no matter what condition the person is exposed to. These traits are inborn and embed within the individual hereditary factors. In most cases, they constitute the physical characteristics of an individual. They also determine the physical behaviors such as walking style, physical appearance and eating habits. At the same time there are learned characteristics which are normally being conditioned by the socio-cultural values. Individuals learn these traits from the way they are socialized within the immediate social or cultural environment. In other words, such behaviors are conditioned by the cultural values encouraged by the immediate society. In conclusion, nature vs. nurture debate still remains controversial. However, all agree that nature and nurture play a crucial role in determining an individual’s behavior. Nature is associated with heredity roles in determining the individuals characteristics where as nurture is associated with the role of socio-cultural environment in determining the individuals behavior.

We will write a custom Essay on Nature Vs Nurture specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page

807 certified writers online

Need a custom Essay sample written from scratch by professional specifically for you?

IvyPanda. (2018, November 19). Nature Vs Nurture. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/

IvyPanda. (2018, November 19). Nature Vs Nurture. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/

"Nature Vs Nurture." IvyPanda , 19 Nov. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

1. IvyPanda . "Nature Vs Nurture." November 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Nature Vs Nurture." November 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Nature Vs Nurture." November 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Nature Vs Nurture'. 19 November.

IMAGES

Nature Vs Nurture
Nature vs Nurture Essay
Nature-Nurture Essay Plan
Addictionary
Nature Vs Nurture Essay
Nature Vs Nurture Essay: A Guide And Introduction

VIDEO

Nature vs. Nurture Song Video
NATURE AND NURTURE ARGUMENT
Halloween Ends
Head-banging baby
paper 1||Nature vs Nurture||B.ed spl
Nature vs. Nurture

COMMENTS

Nature vs. Nurture: Genetic and Environmental ...
Nature refers largely to our genetics. It includes the genes we are born with and other hereditary factors that can impact how our personality is formed and influence the way that we develop from childhood through adulthood. Nurture encompasses the environmental factors that impact who we are.
Essay Sample: Nature Versus Nurture
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 Versus Nurture Essay
Nature versus nurture has been a debate that involves human behavior, and determiners whether it has to do with the environment one is born in or something that was inherited. Nature is often known as the hormone-based behaviors, genetics, disposition, and traits that have been inherited.
Nature vs Nurture Essay: How to Write the Introduction
Nature vs Nurture Essay Our life has a lot of various aspects. Things that influence it may vary significantly. Some people don't bother with the nature of their behavior. They agree that they are the way they are because they are meant to be like this. It does bring some kind of peace to their hearts.
Nature Vs Nurture
Nature is associated with heredity roles in determining the individuals characteristics where as nurture is associated with the role of socio-cultural environment in determining the individuals behavior. This essay on Nature Vs Nurture was written and submitted by your fellow student.
Nature Vs Nurture Essay for Students and Children
The main difference between nature and nurture is, nature is the talent a person inherits from his parents or is God gifted. While nurturing is hard work and mentoring of a person in a particular field. So that he may excel in that field. Browse Essays Travelling Essay Picnic Essay Our Country Essay My Parents Essay Essay on Favourite Personality