Nature Vs. Nurture
In the field of psychology there is a large controversy over whether our environment or our genetics determine who we become. This controversy is called the nature-nurture theory. People who put forward the nature theory argue that genetics play a major role in the development of a person's personality and intelligence. On the other hand, people who put forward the nurture theory argue that who people become is based on their environment and not their genetics. People have argued over the Nature-Nurture theory for so long, because people want to know how much control we have over our destiny. If our environment is the major influence on our development then we could have control over the development of ourselves or other people by changing the environment. If our genetics controls our development then we have little control over who we become. While the nurture argument has some validity, I believe that who we become is mainly due to our genetics. To truly understand the nature-nurture theory it is important to look back and see how this controversy developed. In the seventeenth century John Locke wrote about the strong influences of the environment and impact it has on who we become. Locke stated that "all events and
learning after birth are experienced in the mind as though drawn on a blank slate, or tabola rasa, where they accumulate as knowledge" (Neubauer 146). Later in the eighteenth century, Jean-Jacques Rousseau expanded on Locke's theory that people are a product of their environment. This theroy was very influential on the beliefs of the people in that time and now. Locke and Rousseau were saying that if you took a beggar off the street and gave him equal opportunities and education that he could become as prosperous as any person born to wealth. This theory was very controversial, because the wealthy thought they were genetically superior to the poor. In all these studies researchers have found that "identical twins reared separately showed a likeness in the timing and pattern of development and maturation that was truly surprising, as well as a likeness in some of the foundations of temperament and behavior, from sensitivity to activity to emotional response" (Neubauer 6). This means that the personality of twins was influenced more by their genetics than the environment they were raised in. Environment does play a role in the formation of who we are and does effect the development of our personality and intelligence. By changing the environment in which a person is raised there can be some affect on the person's developing intelligence and personality. While this is true, the results of the twin studies cannot be ignored. These studies show that our genetics have a stronger influence than our environment. No matter where we are raised, it cannot completely change the genes that we are born with. Twin studies have also been used in personality studies. One researcher who has done many studies in this field is Dr. Peter Neubauer. Dr. Neubauer was a prominent psychiatrist in New York in the 1960's. During this time he did a famous study on identical twin girls who were given up for adoption at birth. The girls in this study are well known in psychological literature as Amy and Beth. These two girls were separated at birth and placed in two different families. Dr. Neubauer saw this as a great opportunity to study the effects of environment on personality. The girls were both adopted in New York into Jewish families with mothers who stayed home to ta
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Approximate Word count = 1540
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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