Nature and Nurture

Nature is whether or not someone inherits their perspectives from their parents, and nurture is whether or not someone learns their perspectives. There were a couple of experiments on which is true, nature or nurture. However, according to Pinel (2011) “The physiological-or-psychological debate and the nature-or-nurture debate are based on incorrect ways of thinking about the biology of behavior…” (p. 22).

To ask how much of a particular behavior is due to genetics and how much is due to experience is flawed because there are other factors that influence the behavioral development of each person. Pinel (2011) discusses that these factors are “…the fetal environment, nutrition, stress, and sensory stimulation…” (p. 23). In addition, the concept has been argued that behavior is due to, both, nature and nurture, not one or the other. Furthermore, it is flawed to ask how much of a particular behavior is due to genetics or experience because a brain can be damaged and ultimately change the way one thinks and behaves, or even stimulated to change the way one thinks and behaves. Conversely, to separate the contributions of genetics and experience when measuring the development of difference among individuals is appropriate because everyone has a different upbringing, parents, experiences, and perceptions of current situations (Pinel, 2011. p. 24).

The experiments conducted, on nature and nurture, have both weaknesses and strengths; however, to say that one or the other is solely to blame for certain behavioral issues is flawed. On the other hand, to separate one person from another is proper because everyone is different in the way they experience certain situations and are different from each other.

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