Question

Describe the theories supporting both sides of the nature-nurture debate.

Answer 1

  Currently, the jury is out on the nature/nurture debate (otherwise, it wouldn't be a debate). Now, most commonly the debate is focused on homosexuality as a trait in humans. But, to understand the debate, you need not discuss homosexuality. The point of the debate is that some human attributes are physical and can be tracked through genes. A clear example of this is a person's eye color--if both their parents have blue eyes, then they must have blue eyes since it is a recessive trait. This is the idea that nature causes the attribute. In addition, it suggests that such a trait is scientifically predictable.

In contrast, consider societial norms of female beauty. In the US, this means small frames with overly large breasts, make up, etc. This attribute (or performance) of humans is nurtured. In short, women are told (as well as men) what a "beautiful" woman looks like. In other parts of the world, beauty for woman are constructed differently--e.g., large women are beautiful or tall ones, or ones with numberous plates in their lower lip. Beauty is not objective; it is not natural; it is a construction of nurturing in humans specific thoughts.

Homosexuality falls in between these two traits. In many ways, the trait of homosexuality is much like left-handedness. Two left-handed parents have about a 28% chance of having a lefties as a child. If it were nature only, they should have a 100% chance; however, it is not completely nurture either because they have a higher likelihood than two righthanded parents

The Nature vs. Nurture Theory has been heavily debated by scientists for years. At the core of the debate is whether or not an individual's personality is more influenced by his or her genetic structure (nature) or the environment in which he or she grows up (nurture). Countless tests have been conducted to prove or disprove each theory, but the debate rages on.

Function

Function

• The theory is used to assign cause or blame to an individual's actions, behaviors and intelligence. It often has been referenced in murder cases and divorce proceedings to justify deviant behavior.

History

• Hereditarian and psychologist Sir Francis Galton spoke of the debate between nature and nurture in his writings "English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture," published in 1874.

Nature

• A study conducted by Dr. Thomas J. Bouchard, director of the Minnesota Center for Twin and Adoption Research, concluded that genetic factors play a huge part in human behavior. The study focused on identical twins who had been raised apart from each other.

Nurture

• A study published by researchers at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center purports that violence is a learned behavior, perpetuated by adolescents who have been exposed to violent domestic situations.

Fun Fact

• Nature vs. nurture debates have been sparked by the popular Star Wars stable of movies. Viewers wonder, was Anakin Skywalker born bad or did he become Darth Vader because of elements in his environment?

• The theory is used to assign cause or blame to an individual's actions, behaviors and intelligence. It often has been referenced in murder cases and divorce proceedings to justify deviant behavior.