The document discusses the nature vs nurture debate in human development. It provides background on the long-standing controversy between the influence of innate qualities ("nature") versus personal experiences ("nurture"). While early theorists leaned towards one side, modern science recognizes an interaction between both. Nature includes genetic and hormonal influences, while nurture encompasses environmental and experiential factors. The document examines evidence for both positions and concludes that nurture has a stronger influence on behavior, since environmental inputs can affect gene expression, life experiences are strong predictors of mental illness, and behavior is not solely determined by genetics.
Introduction to developmental psychology UneezaRajpoot
Development from infancy, through childhood and adolescence follows a predictable pattern.
Specifics of development may vary (economic deprivation, war torn territories, refugees etc.)
The prime focus of developmental psychologists is to study the genetic background, consider our environmental factors and how their interplay affects human growth and interaction
Developmental psychology is the study of how humans grow, change and adapt across the course of their lives.
Developmental psychologists study human growth and development over the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth. (APA Dictionary)
Scope of developmental psychology is broad, however, developmental psychologists, primarily work in these 4 broad domains
i)Physical Development
ii) Cognitive Development
iii)Personality Development
iv) Social Development
A short note about the concept of the psychological test; introduction, definition, characteristics, needs, classification, types, and some selected psychological tests.
Introduction to developmental psychology UneezaRajpoot
Development from infancy, through childhood and adolescence follows a predictable pattern.
Specifics of development may vary (economic deprivation, war torn territories, refugees etc.)
The prime focus of developmental psychologists is to study the genetic background, consider our environmental factors and how their interplay affects human growth and interaction
Developmental psychology is the study of how humans grow, change and adapt across the course of their lives.
Developmental psychologists study human growth and development over the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth. (APA Dictionary)
Scope of developmental psychology is broad, however, developmental psychologists, primarily work in these 4 broad domains
i)Physical Development
ii) Cognitive Development
iii)Personality Development
iv) Social Development
A short note about the concept of the psychological test; introduction, definition, characteristics, needs, classification, types, and some selected psychological tests.
When psychology first emerged as a science separate from biology and philosophy, the debate over how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior began.
The different schools of psychology represent the major theories within psychology.
The word ‘PSYCO’ means mind and ‘LOGY’ means to study, it means that Psychology is the study of mental or brain process and also deals with human behavior. First William James defines psychology as the science of brain life in 1890.
When psychology established as a science separate from biology and philosophy the debate will starts that how we describe and explain human behavior then different philosopher gives their thoughts, now a days known schools of thought. Some major schools of thought are define in this summary.
Psychology is all about the study of mind of living beings and to learn the ways to join their environment. Such study of psychology has been divided into categories which are the types of psychology. Some of the psychology details may overlaps each other. Such as school psychology will say about the children and care about psychological disorder.
Clinical Psychology helps to analyze the human behaviours like mental, emotional and behavioural disorders and diagnose, treat and prevent mental disorders.
Read more: http://www.tauedu.org/school-of-behavioral-science.html
Health psychology;Definition, areas,Aims, Need & Significance|Aboutpsy.comAboutPsy
Definition of health psychology
Definition of Health
Areas of health psychology
Aims of health psychology
Need and significance of health psychology
Health psychology is devoted to understanding psychological influences on how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do get ill.
Health psychologists both study such issues and develop interventions to help people stay well or recover from illness.
..........aboutpsy.com
This slide is made by Amit (facebook.com/titanium009) for his class presentation..Sorry fellows and fellas some fonts are not working and creating malfunction... :(...Check fonts from dafont.com and make an awesome slide.. Drop me a mail if you want the exact presentation file (titanium009@gmail.com)
There are many different ways of thinking about human behavior. Psychologists utilize a variety of perspectives when studying how people think, feel, and behave.
Some researchers focus on one specific perspective, such as the biological perspective, while others take a more eclectic approach that incorporates multiple points of view.
There is no single perspective that is "better" than another;
each simply emphasizes different aspects of human behavior.
When psychology first emerged as a science separate from biology and philosophy, the debate over how to describe and explain the human mind and behavior began.
The different schools of psychology represent the major theories within psychology.
The word ‘PSYCO’ means mind and ‘LOGY’ means to study, it means that Psychology is the study of mental or brain process and also deals with human behavior. First William James defines psychology as the science of brain life in 1890.
When psychology established as a science separate from biology and philosophy the debate will starts that how we describe and explain human behavior then different philosopher gives their thoughts, now a days known schools of thought. Some major schools of thought are define in this summary.
Psychology is all about the study of mind of living beings and to learn the ways to join their environment. Such study of psychology has been divided into categories which are the types of psychology. Some of the psychology details may overlaps each other. Such as school psychology will say about the children and care about psychological disorder.
Clinical Psychology helps to analyze the human behaviours like mental, emotional and behavioural disorders and diagnose, treat and prevent mental disorders.
Read more: http://www.tauedu.org/school-of-behavioral-science.html
Health psychology;Definition, areas,Aims, Need & Significance|Aboutpsy.comAboutPsy
Definition of health psychology
Definition of Health
Areas of health psychology
Aims of health psychology
Need and significance of health psychology
Health psychology is devoted to understanding psychological influences on how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do get ill.
Health psychologists both study such issues and develop interventions to help people stay well or recover from illness.
..........aboutpsy.com
This slide is made by Amit (facebook.com/titanium009) for his class presentation..Sorry fellows and fellas some fonts are not working and creating malfunction... :(...Check fonts from dafont.com and make an awesome slide.. Drop me a mail if you want the exact presentation file (titanium009@gmail.com)
There are many different ways of thinking about human behavior. Psychologists utilize a variety of perspectives when studying how people think, feel, and behave.
Some researchers focus on one specific perspective, such as the biological perspective, while others take a more eclectic approach that incorporates multiple points of view.
There is no single perspective that is "better" than another;
each simply emphasizes different aspects of human behavior.
Nature-Nurture (Heredity vs environment) Backgro.docxdohertyjoetta
Nature-Nurture
(Heredity vs environment)
Background
It has long been known that certain physical characteristics are biologically determined by
genetic inheritance. Colour of eyes, straight or curly hair, pigmentation of the skin and certain
diseases (such as Huntingdon’s chorea) are all a function of the genes we inherit. Other physical
characteristics, if not determined, appear to be at least strongly influenced by the genetic make-
up of our biological parents. Height, weight, hair loss (in men), life expectancy and vulnerability
to specific illnesses (e.g. breast cancer in women) are positively correlated between biologically
related individuals. These facts have led many to speculate as to whether psychological
characteristics such as behavioural tendencies, personality attributes and mental abilities are also
“wired in” before we are even born.
Those who adopt an extreme heredity position are known as nativists. Their basic assumption is
that the characteristics of the human species as a whole are a product of evolution and that
individual differences are due to each person’s unique genetic code. Characteristics and
differences that are not observable at birth, but which emerge later in life, are regarded as the
product of maturation. That is to say we all have an inner “biological clock” which switches on
(or off) types of behaviour in a pre programmed way. The classic example of the way this affects
our physical development is the bodily changes that occur in early adolescence at puberty.
However nativists also argue that maturation governs the emergence of attachment in infancy,
language acquisition and even cognitive development as a whole.
At the other end of the spectrum are the environmentalists – also known as empiricists (not to be
confused with the other empirical / scientific approach). Their basic assumption is that at birth
the human mind is a tabula rasa (a blank slate) and that this is gradually “filled” as a result of
experience (e.g. behaviourism). From this point of view psychological characteristics and
behavioural differences that emerge through infancy and childhood are the result of learning. It is
how you are brought up (nurture) that governs the psychologically significant aspects of child
development and the concept of maturation applies only to the biological. So, when an infant
forms an attachment it is responding to the love and attention it has received, language comes
from imitating the speech of others and cognitive development depends on the degree of
stimulation in the environment and, more broadly, on the civilisation within which the child is
reared.
In practice hardly anyone today accepts either of the extreme positions. There are simply too
many “facts” on both sides of the argument which are inconsistent with an “all or nothing” view.
So instead of asking whether child development is down to nature or nurture the question has
been reformulated as .
It contains links between the psychology and genetics. Mostly we think they are far apart but they do have links. Some of intresting facts regarding this are shared with you !!
This powerpoint is from my psychology class. It has borrowed material and some duplicate slides due to some rearranging I was doing in the presentation.
A key question for personality psychologists is Are we what .docxsleeperharwell
A key question for personality psychologists is: “Are we what we are because of
nature or because of nurture?” When the question is phrased in this manner,
neither answer can be correct, for the answers are not mutually exclusive. The
premise of the question itself is wrong. We are what we are because of how
nature and nurture interact; it is not a question of either/or. There clearly are
both inborn and social-cultural influences on the individual. Genetics and
environment—nature and nurture—regulate and guide each person.
In Chapter 1 we examine some of the innate determinants of personality
and behavior. We observe that, as products of a long evolutionary history, hu-
man beings are predisposed to certain patterns of behavior. In addition, spe-
cific genetic blueprints provide the foundation for personality and behavior.
But it is evident that individuals’ personalities are greatly influenced by the
contexts that surround them and by the experiences they have had. Individu-
als brought up in different cultures or social classes behave differently. If one
wants to predict what an individual is doing or thinking at a given time, some
of the best predictors are the point in history when the individual was born and
where he or she is living. In Chapter 2 we examine some of these social and
cultural influences as well as other kinds of environmental influences.
Culture not only influences individuals; it also influences psychological the-
ories themselves. There is increasing reason to believe that the “grand theories”
of Western psychology reflect certain biases about the nature of people that
characterize Western culture.
Chapters 1 and 2 do not attempt to give complete accounts of the genetics of
personality or the social determinants of action; full courses are devoted to these
topics. Rather, we introduce the context of the person: an individual with unique
predispositions who is nevertheless modifiable and shaped by surroundings.
Innate and Environmental
Determinants of Personality 1PART
CHAPTER 1
Genetic Determinants
of Personality
CHAPTER 2
Contextual Aspects
of Personality and
Behavior
Source: Ollyy/Shutterstock.com.
3
Genetic Determinants of Personality
Charles Darwin introduced the idea that the human species is the product
of a long period of evolution in The Origin of Species and Descent of Man.
His arguments had an enormous influence on the field of personality. First,
his theory of evolution assumed scientific determinism—that is, the theory
assumed that the most complex aspects of behavior in all species are sub-
ject to scientific and rational analysis and are not due to accident or divine
intervention. This principle was accepted by psychologists in their study of
both nonhuman and human behavior. Second, Darwin focused attention on
the function or adaptive value of biological structures and behavior. Psychol-
ogists have been guided by this viewpoint as they search for the usefu.
In regards to the findings of Darwin on the intellectual differences.pdfbarristeressaseren71
In regards to the findings of Darwin on the intellectual differences between men and women, he
based his complete findings entirely on the basis of a consideration of the long-continued action
of natural and sexual selection. He never took into consideration other factors. Write a 1-2 page
essay that addresses the following:
Why do you think Darwin never took into consideration the environment, social roles, influence
of culture, and the few opportunities that existed in the late 1870s for women as well as
historically for both men and women?
How do you think the findings of Darwin, in regards to women being of inferior intelligence,
would have changed if he had taken into consideration all the above factors as well as natural
and sexual selection? What would the major differences have been?
Solution
According to Darwin theory of natural selection, sexual selection is the phenomenon that drives
the evolution of life. The findings of Darwin on the intellectual differences are between men and
women depict his complete findings entirely based on a consideration of the long-continued
action of natural and sexual selection. Darwin never took into consideration the environment,
social roles, influence of culture, and the few opportunities that existed in the late 1870s for
women as well as historically for both men and women because these factors have no meticulous
effects on the \"human intellectual differences\" and gender differences. Reproductive capability
tasks plays an important stronger role to produce the progeny with strong survival rate of the
fittest is crucial in the natural selection, where human progeny often produce higher intellectual
abilities. The evolution of these offspring with higher fitness to survive in the environment with
intellectual differences between men and women, based on a consideration of the long-continued
action of natural and sexual selection (women for men with high fitness) is done through natural
selection. Therefore the resultant offspring will gain \"higher intellectual ability & high
reproductive fitness\" and genomic feature to eliminate deleterious alleles (induced by mutations)
via natural selection. Those species, which can withstand and sustain to this environment, those
will survive for a period by getting nurture from the nature. Natural selection is always occurs in
a population if there are genetic variation for a trait in that population followed by heritability of
that specific trait to the offspring as an evolutionary adaptation. Mutations also induce natural
selection and evolution of new traits
According to the findings of Darwin, in regards to women being of inferior intelligence, it would
have not changed if he had taken into consideration of the environment, social roles, influence of
culture, because “men always trying face higher “selection pressure”. Men always try to prove
physically & emotionally and intellectually higher ability or superior than other men to compete
for women as a r.
Evolution And Evolution Of Evolution
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Evidence Of Evolution
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Why Do You Believe In The Theory Of Evolution
New Directions in Targeted Therapeutic Approaches for Older Adults With Mantl...i3 Health
i3 Health is pleased to make the speaker slides from this activity available for use as a non-accredited self-study or teaching resource.
This slide deck presented by Dr. Kami Maddocks, Professor-Clinical in the Division of Hematology and
Associate Division Director for Ambulatory Operations
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, will provide insight into new directions in targeted therapeutic approaches for older adults with mantle cell lymphoma.
STATEMENT OF NEED
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare, aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounting for 5% to 7% of all lymphomas. Its prognosis ranges from indolent disease that does not require treatment for years to very aggressive disease, which is associated with poor survival (Silkenstedt et al, 2021). Typically, MCL is diagnosed at advanced stage and in older patients who cannot tolerate intensive therapy (NCCN, 2022). Although recent advances have slightly increased remission rates, recurrence and relapse remain very common, leading to a median overall survival between 3 and 6 years (LLS, 2021). Though there are several effective options, progress is still needed towards establishing an accepted frontline approach for MCL (Castellino et al, 2022). Treatment selection and management of MCL are complicated by the heterogeneity of prognosis, advanced age and comorbidities of patients, and lack of an established standard approach for treatment, making it vital that clinicians be familiar with the latest research and advances in this area. In this activity chaired by Michael Wang, MD, Professor in the Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma at MD Anderson Cancer Center, expert faculty will discuss prognostic factors informing treatment, the promising results of recent trials in new therapeutic approaches, and the implications of treatment resistance in therapeutic selection for MCL.
Target Audience
Hematology/oncology fellows, attending faculty, and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).
Learning Objectives
1.) Identify clinical and biological prognostic factors that can guide treatment decision making for older adults with MCL
2.) Evaluate emerging data on targeted therapeutic approaches for treatment-naive and relapsed/refractory MCL and their applicability to older adults
3.) Assess mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies for MCL and their implications for treatment selection
- Video recording of this lecture in English language: https://youtu.be/lK81BzxMqdo
- Video recording of this lecture in Arabic language: https://youtu.be/Ve4P0COk9OI
- Link to download the book free: https://nephrotube.blogspot.com/p/nephrotube-nephrology-books.html
- Link to NephroTube website: www.NephroTube.com
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Acute scrotum is a general term referring to an emergency condition affecting the contents or the wall of the scrotum.
There are a number of conditions that present acutely, predominantly with pain and/or swelling
A careful and detailed history and examination, and in some cases, investigations allow differentiation between these diagnoses. A prompt diagnosis is essential as the patient may require urgent surgical intervention
Testicular torsion refers to twisting of the spermatic cord, causing ischaemia of the testicle.
Testicular torsion results from inadequate fixation of the testis to the tunica vaginalis producing ischemia from reduced arterial inflow and venous outflow obstruction.
The prevalence of testicular torsion in adult patients hospitalized with acute scrotal pain is approximately 25 to 50 percent
Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), or beverage alcohol, is a two-carbon alcohol
that is rapidly distributed in the body and brain. Ethanol alters many
neurochemical systems and has rewarding and addictive properties. It
is the oldest recreational drug and likely contributes to more morbidity,
mortality, and public health costs than all illicit drugs combined. The
5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) integrates alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into a single
disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD), with mild, moderate,
and severe subclassifications (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
In the DSM-5, all types of substance abuse and dependence have been
combined into a single substance use disorder (SUD) on a continuum
from mild to severe. A diagnosis of AUD requires that at least two of
the 11 DSM-5 behaviors be present within a 12-month period (mild
AUD: 2–3 criteria; moderate AUD: 4–5 criteria; severe AUD: 6–11 criteria).
The four main behavioral effects of AUD are impaired control over
drinking, negative social consequences, risky use, and altered physiological
effects (tolerance, withdrawal). This chapter presents an overview
of the prevalence and harmful consequences of AUD in the U.S.,
the systemic nature of the disease, neurocircuitry and stages of AUD,
comorbidities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, genetic risk factors, and
pharmacotherapies for AUD.
The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male mammalian reproductive system
It is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system and is located in front of the rectum and just below the urinary bladder
Function is to store and secrete a clear, slightly alkaline fluid that constitutes 10-30% of the volume of the seminal fluid that along with the spermatozoa, constitutes semen
A healthy human prostate measures (4cm-vertical, by 3cm-horizontal, 2cm ant-post ).
It surrounds the urethra just below the urinary bladder. It has anterior, median, posterior and two lateral lobes
It’s work is regulated by androgens which are responsible for male sex characteristics
Generalised disease of the prostate due to hormonal derangement which leads to non malignant enlargement of the gland (increase in the number of epithelial cells and stromal tissue)to cause compression of the urethra leading to symptoms (LUTS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE.pdfAnujkumaranit
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. It encompasses tasks such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. AI technologies are revolutionizing various fields, from healthcare to finance, by enabling machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Report Back from SGO 2024: What’s the Latest in Cervical Cancer?bkling
Are you curious about what’s new in cervical cancer research or unsure what the findings mean? Join Dr. Emily Ko, a gynecologic oncologist at Penn Medicine, to learn about the latest updates from the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Dr. Ko will discuss what the research presented at the conference means for you and answer your questions about the new developments.
Couples presenting to the infertility clinic- Do they really have infertility...Sujoy Dasgupta
Dr Sujoy Dasgupta presented the study on "Couples presenting to the infertility clinic- Do they really have infertility? – The unexplored stories of non-consummation" in the 13th Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE 2024) at Manila on 24 May, 2024.
Title: Sense of Taste
Presenter: Dr. Faiza, Assistant Professor of Physiology
Qualifications:
MBBS (Best Graduate, AIMC Lahore)
FCPS Physiology
ICMT, CHPE, DHPE (STMU)
MPH (GC University, Faisalabad)
MBA (Virtual University of Pakistan)
Learning Objectives:
Describe the structure and function of taste buds.
Describe the relationship between the taste threshold and taste index of common substances.
Explain the chemical basis and signal transduction of taste perception for each type of primary taste sensation.
Recognize different abnormalities of taste perception and their causes.
Key Topics:
Significance of Taste Sensation:
Differentiation between pleasant and harmful food
Influence on behavior
Selection of food based on metabolic needs
Receptors of Taste:
Taste buds on the tongue
Influence of sense of smell, texture of food, and pain stimulation (e.g., by pepper)
Primary and Secondary Taste Sensations:
Primary taste sensations: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami
Chemical basis and signal transduction mechanisms for each taste
Taste Threshold and Index:
Taste threshold values for Sweet (sucrose), Salty (NaCl), Sour (HCl), and Bitter (Quinine)
Taste index relationship: Inversely proportional to taste threshold
Taste Blindness:
Inability to taste certain substances, particularly thiourea compounds
Example: Phenylthiocarbamide
Structure and Function of Taste Buds:
Composition: Epithelial cells, Sustentacular/Supporting cells, Taste cells, Basal cells
Features: Taste pores, Taste hairs/microvilli, and Taste nerve fibers
Location of Taste Buds:
Found in papillae of the tongue (Fungiform, Circumvallate, Foliate)
Also present on the palate, tonsillar pillars, epiglottis, and proximal esophagus
Mechanism of Taste Stimulation:
Interaction of taste substances with receptors on microvilli
Signal transduction pathways for Umami, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, and Salty tastes
Taste Sensitivity and Adaptation:
Decrease in sensitivity with age
Rapid adaptation of taste sensation
Role of Saliva in Taste:
Dissolution of tastants to reach receptors
Washing away the stimulus
Taste Preferences and Aversions:
Mechanisms behind taste preference and aversion
Influence of receptors and neural pathways
Impact of Sensory Nerve Damage:
Degeneration of taste buds if the sensory nerve fiber is cut
Abnormalities of Taste Detection:
Conditions: Ageusia, Hypogeusia, Dysgeusia (parageusia)
Causes: Nerve damage, neurological disorders, infections, poor oral hygiene, adverse drug effects, deficiencies, aging, tobacco use, altered neurotransmitter levels
Neurotransmitters and Taste Threshold:
Effects of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) on taste sensitivity
Supertasters:
25% of the population with heightened sensitivity to taste, especially bitterness
Increased number of fungiform papillae
Prix Galien International 2024 Forum ProgramLevi Shapiro
June 20, 2024, Prix Galien International and Jerusalem Ethics Forum in ROME. Detailed agenda including panels:
- ADVANCES IN CARDIOLOGY: A NEW PARADIGM IS COMING
- WOMEN’S HEALTH: FERTILITY PRESERVATION
- WHAT’S NEW IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS,
ONCOLOGICAL AND INFLAMMATORY SKIN DISEASES?
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ETHICS
- GENE THERAPY
- BEYOND BORDERS: GLOBAL INITIATIVES FOR DEMOCRATIZING LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
- ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE SCIENCES
- Prix Galien International Awards Ceremony
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NATURE-NURTURE CONTROVERSY
1. INTRODUCTION
The nature-nurture controversy has been one that has plagued psychology for
decades and till today, still remains a controversy. the term ‘nature-nurture’ is a colloquial
term for the two views of human development; one emphasizing heredity and the other
environment. it is the scientific, cultural and philosophical debate about whether human
culture, behaviour and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture. in this regard,
nature is often defined as genetic or hormone-based behaviours while nurture is defined as
environment and experience.
The nature-nurture controversy relates to the relative importance of an individual’s
innate qualities (“nature” in the sense of nativism or innatism) as compared to an
individual’s personal experiences (“nurture” in the sense of empiricism or behaviourism)
in causing individual differences especially in behavioural traits.
The nature-nurture controversy is an age-old dispute among behavioural
psychologists, philosophers, theologians, and theorists of consciousness as to the source of
the creation of human personality: Does it develop primarily from biology (nature), or
from the environments in which we are raised (nurture)? People have been pondering the
role of nature and environment since the time of Hippocrates (c. 460-c. 377 B.C.). He, for
instance, linked human behaviour to four bodily fluids, or humours: yellow bile, blood,
black bile, and phlegm. Hippocrates classified personalities into four types related to these
four humours: choleric (yellow bile), or hot-tempered; sanguine (blood), or confident;
melancholic (black bile), or moody; and phlegmatic, or slow to take action.
2. Unlike Hippocrates, the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704), whose ideas were a
precursor to behaviourism, believed that behaviours were externally determined. Similarly,
the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) theorized that people were born
essentially good, and that positive aspects of the environmental contribute to the
development of behaviour. Locke believed that people were born essentially blank, like a
blackboard, and who they "became" was entirely the result of their experiences.
The first scientist of the modern era to seriously consider the genetic and
environmental effects in personality development was Sir Francis Galton, a wealthy
British scientist. He dabbled in the arts and sciences but became primarily interested in
what we today call genetics after his cousin, Charles Darwin, published The Origin of the
Species in 1859. He was fascinated by the idea of genetic pre-programming and-sought to
uncover the ways in which humans are predestined. Many of his experiments were
eccentric and ill-conceived, but his contributions to the field are still considered vital. His
studies, curiously, led to the development of the science of fingerprinting and to the
concept of the word association test. He also coined the term "eugenics" and believed that
science would one day be able to direct, with absolute precision, the development patterns
of human evolution. Taking the other position in this early debate was John Watson, the
eminent behaviourist who once made the outlandish claim— which he later modified—
that he could turn babies into any kind of specialist he wanted.
Over the years, much research has been done in the nature/nurture controversy, and
today nearly everyone agrees that both nature and nurture play crucial roles in human
development. This outlook has come to be known as interactionism and is the dominant
system of belief among biologists, psychologists, and philosophers nearly everywhere.
3. WHAT IS NATURE?
Nature refers to effect of the genes or hormones on behaviours. It refers to the
relative importance of an individual’s innate qualities (“nature” in the sense of nativism or
innatism) in causing individual differences especially in behavioural traits. According to
Sir Francis Galton, nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world
Nature was attributed to influence behaviours in the 17th century by the French
philosopher René Descartes when he set out views which held that we all, as individual
Human Beings, possess certain in-born ideas that underpin our approach to the world.
Also, the French philosopher Jean Jacques Roseau considered genetic factors as most
influential in behaviour formation.
In recent years, the nature side have of the debate have gained more attention with
headlines trumpeting newly discovered genes for virtually every behaviour. Evolutionary
psychology and socio-biology are two branches of science that attempt to demonstrate the
evolutionary roots of human behaviour. Scientists working on the Human Genome Project
recently discovered an estimated 100,000 genes in the DNA. They have been able to
identify genes responsible for varieties of diseases including Huntington Disease, Cystic
Fibrosis, Down syndrome, Tay - Sachs disease and a number of cancers.
Also, a new scientific study of 409 pairs of gay brothers by the NorthShore
Research Institute in the US found clear links between male sexual orientation and two
specific regions of the human genome with the lead scientist Alan Sanders declaring that
the work “erodes the notion that sexual orientation is a choice.”
4. Another area that has favoured the nature side of the debate is twins study. The
behavioural genes are somewhat proven to exist when we take a look at fraternal twins.
When fraternal twins are reared apart, they show the same similarities in behaviour and
response as if they have been reared together.
Nature or genetics has been proven to be an important factor in the development of
some mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression.
Another area where researchers may place more emphasis on nature more than nurture is
that of addictions. Studies show that alcohol addiction can recur in families and that
certain genes may have an influence over the way alcohol tastes and the way it affects the
body.
Below is a table showing behaviours that are strongly influenced by nature.
Physical
Characteristics
Intellectual
Characteristics
Emotional
Characteristics
Height Memory Shyness
Obesity Age of language
acquisition
Neurotic
Weight Ability as
measured by IQ
test
Extraversion
5. Tone of voice Reading
disability
Anxiety
Blood pressure Mental
retardation
Alcoholism
Tooth decay ----------------- Schizophrenia
Athletic ability ------------------- ----------------------
Age of death -------------------- ----------------------
Source: Feldman (1996), Understanding Psychology
WHAT IS NURTURE?
Nurture refers to an individual’s personal experiences in causing individual
differences especially in behavioural traits. It is seen as the development of behaviours as
a result of as environment and experience.
In his work English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture, which discussed the
influence of genetics and environment on a person's development and which was
originally published in 1874, Francis Galton, a second or half-cousin to Charles Darwin
stated: "...nurture is every influence that affects man after his birth."
The view that humans acquire all or almost their behavioural traits from nurture was
termed tabula rasa (blank slate) by John Locke in 1690.
6. J.B Watson in the 1920s and 30s established the purist school of behaviourism. He was
convinced of the complete dominance of cultural influence over anything heritability
might contribute, to the point of claiming:
“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed and my own
specified world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any
one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might
select- doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even a beggar
and a thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities,
vocations and race of his ancestors.”
This view was widely held during much of the 20th century that in the 1960s, researcher
John Money attempted to demonstrate that gender was a product of early conditioning by
raising a boy, whose circumcision was botched, as a girl. His experiment seemed
successful in the beginning but was ultimately a failure.
Certain genetic factors may create a predisposition for a particular illness but the
probability that a person develops that illness depends in part on environment (nurture).
This is evident in James Fallon, a neuroscientist who discovered that he had the brain of a
psychopath. He stated that he believes growing up in a nurturing and loving environment
helped him to become a successful adult and may have been effective at preventing him
from fully developing traits of psychopathy. Similarly, the basis for addiction is not
thought to be entirely genetic by most researchers. Environmental aspects such as the
habits of parents, friends, or a partner might also be a significant factor contributing to the
development of an addiction.
7. WHICH THEN DO YOU CONSIDER TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIOUR MORE?
According to Donald Hebb, “The question of nature or nurture, which contributes
more to personality, is like asking which contributes more to the area of a rectangle; its
length or its width”.
However, from my point of view and for the purpose of this assignment, I strongly
consider nurture to influence behaviour more. My reasons are as follows:
Firstly, Heritability (nature) is subject to environment (nurture). This is because
environmental inputs affect the expression of genes (epigenetics).
Secondly, researchers at the University of Liverpool recently found that while a
family history (genetics or nature) was the second strongest predictor of mental illness, the
strongest predictor was in fact life events and experiences (nurture) such as childhood
bullying, abuse or other trauma, thereby, supporting the significant role of nurture in
mental health issues.
Thirdly, Anthropologist Donald Brown in the 1980s surveyed hundreds of
anthropological studies from around the world and collected a set of Cultural Universals.
He identified approximately 150 such features coming to the conclusion that there is
indeed a “Universal human nature” and that these features points to what that universal
human nature is. This ultimately implies that nurture is a basic composition of the human
nature.
8. Moreover, while certain types of behaviour can be traced to certain genetic
characteristics, there is no genetic blueprint to an individual’s personality. Implicitly
implying that nurture is what determines a person’s personality.
Further more, Environment is necessarily an important factor in any developmental
process, including that of the prenatal period. In the case of motor skills, for example,
development can be accelerated or retarded by the presence or absence of environmental
stimulation. In a foundling home in Lebanon, where children spent most of their first year
lying on their backs in cribs, totally ignored by adults, motor skills were so retarded that
some infants over a year old could not sit up, let alone walk (Dennis and Sayegh, 1965).
While a poor environment retards development, additional experience and stimulation can
encourage some motor skills provided the stimulation is appropriate to the baby's age.
Another study has shown that when babies are trained to use their walking reflex
regularly, they begin to walk about one to two months earlier than most other infants
(Zelazoetal, 1972). Stimulation from the environment not only enhances muscle strength
but also facilitates the development of the nervous system. During sensitive periods of
development, an organism is especially susceptible to certain kinds of environmental
influences.
Finally, behavioural genetics assumes that the genetic bases of an individual’s
behaviour simply cannot be determined. This shows that genetics (nature) does not
determine a person’s behaviour but rather, nurture does.
9. REFERENCES
James Vincent (Nov 21, 2014). Science. Largesteverstudy into the gay gene ‘erodes
the notion that sexualorientation is a choice.’ The Independent. Retrieved
from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/largest-ever-sudy-into-the-
gay-gene-erodes-the-notion-that-sexual-orientation-is-a-choice9875855.html
Lemma, Girma(2005). Lecture notes for health science students:GeneralPsychology.
Ethiopia: Defence University College.
Nature-Nurture controversy(2015). Retrievedonline 12th
Jan, 2016 from
/http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/442/Nature-Nurture/
Nature vs. Nurture Debate (2014). Retrievedonline 12th
Jan 2016 from
/http://goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture/
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