Nature is to nurture as heredity is to
|
Learning Objectives: Heredity In this chapter, we will begin by examining some of the ways in which heredity helps to shape the way we are. We will look at what happens genetically during conception, and describe some known genetic and chromosomal disorders.
How does nature vs. nurture affect our genes?Nature vs. nurture affects our mental and physical health. Most conventional theories of nature vs. nurture consider the differences in humans a result of elements of both your genetic makeup and your environment. How does nature vs. nurture affect our mental and physical health?It is understood that certain physical traits, as well as the susceptibility to most physical and mental health disorders, tend to run in families. Specifically, whatever illnesses your parents, grandparents, siblings, and other biological family members have does not guarantee you will inherit them, but it does increase the likelihood that you may develop them. On the other hand, it is understood that environmental factors often have a significant effect on whether or not you develop the health problems that run in your family. (You can change your gene expressions). A couple of examples of how the environment (nurture) can provide a benefit, and possibly decrease your risk of getting an illness from your family are:
Examples of how negative environmental influences can affect genetic expression include:
Your Genes and DiseaseSome genetic diseases and conditions are inherited from your family, while others are caused by changes or mutations in a pre-existing gene, or group of genes. These gene mutations can occur from an environmental exposure or randomly. What is nature vs. nurture (definitions)?In the context of the nature vs. nurture debate, “nature” refers to biological/genetic predispositions’ impact on human traits, and nurture describes the influence of learning and other influences from one’s environment. The debate over whether the strengths and weaknesses of people are the results of nature or nurture has, and somewhat continues to rage on between scholars and laypeople alike. This debate has had significant social implications, particularly concerning what is thought to determine people’s ability to learn/intelligence (Lynch, 2016). What is the nature vs. nurture? Who created the theory?The initial use of the Nature vs. Nurture theory was credited to psychologist Sir Francis Galton in 1869 (Bynum, 2002). However, it is unclear who initially described the impact of genes and biology versus environmental influences. Scientists, doctors, researchers, psychologists, behaviorists, and many others have debated these theories since Hippocrates was alive. Around 400 B.C.E., Hippocrates described human behaviors as being biological, the result of four different body fluid types called the humors.
In contrast, many centuries later, philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke independently thought that people are born as blank slates (i.e. "tabula rasa") and that their eventual individual differences develop solely due to the result of environmental influences (Psychology Encyclopedia, 2017; Duschinsky, 2012; Nesterak, 2015). Twentieth-century behavioral psychologist John Watson shared a similar perspective, believing that the events that take place during early childhood have far more influence on what kind of adults we become compared to the effects of our genes (Haggbloom et al, 2002).  SLIDESHOWHealthy Living: Sunlight and Your Health See SlideshowWhat are examples of nature vs. nurture?While certain physical traits like skin and eye color and diseases like sickle cell anemia and Huntington’s chorea are the result of direct genetic inheritance, virtually any pattern of thinking or behavior can be understood from the perspective of a combination of nature and nurture. In the animal kingdom, domestication of many species is understood to be the result of encouraging domesticated behaviors (nurture), then having animals that most successfully adopt those behaviors breed with each other so it becomes part of their nature (Bouchard, 1994). In humans, many studies in more than the past 20 years involve identical or fraternal twins who are separated at birth. The question of nature vs. nurture somewhat continues to be debated concerning human behavior, intelligence, and the development of personality traits (Psychology Encyclopedia, 2017). Health NewsIs our intelligence based on nature or nurture?As with most human traits, intelligence is now understood to be the result of some combination of both nature and nurture. While genes have a great influence on the size and biochemistry of the brain, their full development does not usually occur until after the first 20 years of life. Also, the heredity of intelligence tends to vary between different aspects of cognition. Intelligence and subsequent learning also are viewed as being largely molded by the environment the person grows up in, both before and after birth. (European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2007; Kan et al, 2013). Therefore, to reduce your risk of inheriting diseases or illnesses from your family (or passing them on to your children):
QUESTIONPanic attacks are repeated attacks of fear that can last for several minutes. See AnswerMedically Reviewed on 3/18/2022 References Bouchard TJ. Genes, environment and personality. Science. 1994 June; 264: 1700-1701. Bynum WF. The childless father of eugenics. Science. 2002; 296, 472. Duschinsky R. Tabula rasa and human nature. Philosophy 2012; 87(4): 509-529. European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. "Intelligence: more nature than nurture?" Science Daily. October 2007 . Haggbloom SJ, Warnick JE, Jones VK, et al. The 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century. Review of General Psychology 2002; 6(2): 139-152. Kan KJ, Wicherts JM, Dolan CV, et al. "On the nature and nurture of intelligence and specific cognitive abilities." Psychological Science. October 2013. Lynch K. "Genes are not destiny: environment and education still matter when it comes to intelligence." The Conversation. August 2016. Nesterak E. "The end of nature versus nurture." The Psych Report. July 2015. Psychology Encyclopedia. Nature-Nurture Controversy. Genes and Behavior. 2017: 1106-1138. Is hereditary nature or nurture?Nature refers largely to our genetics. It includes the genes we are born with and other hereditary factors that can impact how our personality is formed and influence the way that we develop from childhood through adulthood. Nurture encompasses the environmental factors that impact who we are.
What does hereditary nature mean?passing, or capable of passing, naturally from parent to offspring through the genes: Blue eyes are hereditary in our family. Compare congenital. of or relating to inheritance or heredity: a hereditary title.
What is nurture heredity?The researchers zoom in on a particular type of interaction called 'genetic nurture' effects. 'Genetic nurture' is when a parent's genes affect how they nurture their child. For example, a parent might possess a clutch of genes that give them an especially conscientious but introverted personality.
What is to nature as nurture?Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors after conception, e.g., the product of exposure, life experiences and learning on an individual.
|
