Week 4: Nature vs. Nurture

When it comes to the nature vs. nurture debate I tend to adopt a combination theory.  I know that some aspects of people can be determined mostly by nature while others can be mostly by nurture.  However, I believe that most behaviors and the whole socialization process children go through is a combination of nature and nurture.

Certain conditions, such as nearsightedness have been found to be mostly genetic (Berger, 2008).  Twin studies are very often utilized to show whether something is genetic or not.  In the case of nearsightedness, if one twin has it the other twin almost certainly has it as well.  This shows strong evidence that nearsightedness is nature based.

However, when it comes to the issue of socialization, one cannot help but conceed to the fact that the process is very nurture based.  The word socialization is based on society, which nurtures people to be certain things.  I believe that people are born with dispositions to behave in certain ways and society can either encourage this or change this.  A child's temperament is their inclination to be a certain way, such as an introvert or extrovert.  With socialization, or nurture, this child's temperament can be shaped into their personality.  A child whose temperament includes being an introvert can change into being more of an extrovert if their parents put them into new situations and help them become engaged in various activities to meet many new people. 

When it comes to gender my same ideas apply.  I believe that males and females are born with dispositions to behave a certain way and society encourages those behaviors so that girls act like girls and boys act like boys.  I do not agree with Freud's focus on the penis.  Young children are barely aware of who they are, let alone worried about having a penis or not.  During socialization I feel that parents, other children, and the media all shape children to either continue their inclinations to be a certain way or change them.

Berger, K. (2008).  The developing person through the life span (7^th ed.).  New York: Worth Publishers.