NATURE AND NURTURE DEBATE

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Are people born with predetermined behavioural patterns or are they determined by the socialization of the environment early on in life?

Arguments For Nurture

SocializationSocialization Feral childrenFeral children

Conditioning Conditioning Institutions Institutions

Socialization is the act of adopting behavioural Socialization is the act of adopting behavioural patterns of surroundings.patterns of surroundings. SchoolSchool WorkWork Home Home Home/ FamilyHome/ Family Religion Religion

Theses are the mediums that shape who you are Theses are the mediums that shape who you are

What is Socialization?

Feral Children : Genie

Feral children are lost or abandoned children Feral children are lost or abandoned children raised in extreme isolation and or raised in the raised in extreme isolation and or raised in the wild; “adopted” by animals. wild; “adopted” by animals.

Genie was tried to a potty chair for 10 years by her father as a form of Genie was tried to a potty chair for 10 years by her father as a form of punishment. punishment.

When she was discovered she was unable to walk properly, When she was discovered she was unable to walk properly, communicate properly, show connections to the world around her or communicate properly, show connections to the world around her or even speak. even speak.

Once she was taken into the care of therapists she began to play, walk, Once she was taken into the care of therapists she began to play, walk, show emotional connections, and even spoke fragmented sentencesshow emotional connections, and even spoke fragmented sentences

Feral Children: Genie and Victor

After funding for the studies stopped she was placed into a After funding for the studies stopped she was placed into a foster home where she was beaten. She then became mute foster home where she was beaten. She then became mute once again. once again.

Victor was discovered when one day he ran out of the Victor was discovered when one day he ran out of the woods. It was assumed from his behaviours that he was woods. It was assumed from his behaviours that he was abandoned after only a few years of life, and then taken in abandoned after only a few years of life, and then taken in by animals, most likely dogs. by animals, most likely dogs.

He showed an extreme resistance to cold, was aggressive, He showed an extreme resistance to cold, was aggressive, couldn’t speak accept in grunts, possessed odd and couldn’t speak accept in grunts, possessed odd and animalistic behaviours.animalistic behaviours.

Feral Children: Relevance

Genie was unable to function like others her age Genie was unable to function like others her age because she was deprived of basic interactions, because she was deprived of basic interactions, thus she didn’t learn very much.thus she didn’t learn very much.

Once she began working with therapists she Once she began working with therapists she learned slowly how to function normally. learned slowly how to function normally.

Victor was more able to conduct himself because Victor was more able to conduct himself because he wasn’t abandoned immediately, and had some he wasn’t abandoned immediately, and had some interactions with life forms. interactions with life forms.

He was socialized by animals and therefore He was socialized by animals and therefore adopted their aggressive behaviours adopted their aggressive behaviours

Conditioning is A process of behaviour Conditioning is A process of behaviour modification by which a subject comes to modification by which a subject comes to associate a desired behaviour with a associate a desired behaviour with a previously unrelated stimulus. previously unrelated stimulus.

Scary incident at the dentist, causes trauma. Scary incident at the dentist, causes trauma. The next time once goes to the dentist they The next time once goes to the dentist they experience feelings of fear and anxiety. experience feelings of fear and anxiety.

Conditioning

Conditioning: Classical vs Operant

Genie stopped speaking after her foster care beating because when she Genie stopped speaking after her foster care beating because when she was with her father he used to beat her for making sounds. was with her father he used to beat her for making sounds. She was conditioned to think that when she spoke she would get She was conditioned to think that when she spoke she would get

hurt, and therefore she stopped speaking all together when she was hurt, and therefore she stopped speaking all together when she was beaten again.beaten again.

Institutions such as school, work, army etc condition individuals to Institutions such as school, work, army etc condition individuals to accept certain behaviours. accept certain behaviours. Army conditions normal men from all over the country to let go of Army conditions normal men from all over the country to let go of

stigmas about death and thus create killing machines. These stigmas about death and thus create killing machines. These behaviours are not normal to us but these men have changed their behaviours are not normal to us but these men have changed their own beliefs. own beliefs.

In Favour of Genetics

Heredity Heredity Sibling behaviour Sibling behaviour

Adoption studiesAdoption studies Twin analysis, identical, fraternal etc. Twin analysis, identical, fraternal etc.

Heredity: Questions?

Do you have siblings? Do you have siblings? Do you feel that you don’t relate to your Do you feel that you don’t relate to your

sibling?sibling? Which parent or other family member do Which parent or other family member do

you think you take after?you think you take after?

Heredity

We inherit diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, body type, and most We inherit diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, body type, and most importantly genetic makeup. importantly genetic makeup. So the question is why not behaviour?So the question is why not behaviour?

Studies have shown that a child can in fact inherit behavioural Studies have shown that a child can in fact inherit behavioural disorders from the parent,or that there is some correlation to the disorders from the parent,or that there is some correlation to the genetics of the individuals. genetics of the individuals.

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia DepressionDepression Alcoholism/ Indulgence dependenceAlcoholism/ Indulgence dependence Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder

To perform an experiment there must be To perform an experiment there must be a control. It’s hard to document and a control. It’s hard to document and mimic ones environment, therefore twins mimic ones environment, therefore twins can be used to control genetics. can be used to control genetics.

Studies where done on twins who were Studies where done on twins who were separated at birth and raised apart. separated at birth and raised apart.

Adoption Studies

Adoption Studies: Jim Twins

Seminaries the brother shared besides the same name.Seminaries the brother shared besides the same name. Hair stylesHair styles Laugh Laugh Both had a carpentry shop Both had a carpentry shop Enjoyed Salem cigarettes Enjoyed Salem cigarettes Vacationed one the same beach in Florida Vacationed one the same beach in Florida Divorced a women named LindaDivorced a women named Linda Both married a Betty Both married a Betty Named their sons James Allan/Allen Named their sons James Allan/Allen Named the Dog Toy Named the Dog Toy Both were strict about saving moneyBoth were strict about saving money Had the same pastimes Had the same pastimes

Adoption Studies:

Children adopted with criminal parents that is adopted into a Children adopted with criminal parents that is adopted into a normal family still has a high chance of becoming involved in normal family still has a high chance of becoming involved in crime due to temperamental behaviours etc. crime due to temperamental behaviours etc.

Personality traits are unpredictable and immeasurable but we can Personality traits are unpredictable and immeasurable but we can conclude something more measurable; children tend to have the conclude something more measurable; children tend to have the same IQ as their parents.same IQ as their parents.

A study was done to show that if one twin was placed in a home A study was done to show that if one twin was placed in a home with a similar IQ as the parents the child remains the same. with a similar IQ as the parents the child remains the same.

While the other twin is placed in a family with a higher IQ than While the other twin is placed in a family with a higher IQ than the parents, the subject does increase his IQ, but only to a limit. the parents, the subject does increase his IQ, but only to a limit.

Fraternal twins also showed many dissimilarities, in behaviour, Fraternal twins also showed many dissimilarities, in behaviour, affection, perception of the world etc. even when they are raised in affection, perception of the world etc. even when they are raised in the same environments.the same environments.

Nature vs. Nurture does not exist because both Nature vs. Nurture does not exist because both work in conjunction with each other. Scientists work in conjunction with each other. Scientists have agreed that it is Nature AND Nurture. have agreed that it is Nature AND Nurture.

Gene and environmental factors are very Gene and environmental factors are very complicated and work in conjunction with each complicated and work in conjunction with each other. other.

Although we can determine that some have a Although we can determine that some have a genetic predisposition to one behaviour, and genetic predisposition to one behaviour, and that the environment can nurture or hinder that the environment can nurture or hinder that behaviour. that behaviour.

Conclusion