Nature-Nurture Controversy PDF

Nature-Nurture Controversy  The nature versus nurture debate involves the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited (i.e., genetic) or acquired (i.e., learned) influences. Nature- Nature Nurture Nat...

Nature-Nurture Controversy  The nature versus nurture debate involves the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited (i.e., genetic) or acquired (i.e., learned) influences. Nature- Nature Nurture Nature or heredity refers to the transmission of genes or traits of physical, mental and Controversy other characteristics from parents to the child at conception. The medium of this transmission is primarily through sexual intercourse. Nature The male and female genes are the biological blue- prints of physical and mental features found in the germ-cell of the parents. Hair and eye colour, possibility of height and body dimensions are examples of features carried from parents to children. Psychologists of the nature orientation explained that heredity factors are the most important in human development. According to them, the basic properties of humankind, thus; physical, mental, social, emotional and other characteristics exist at birth and are entirely independent of the individual’s subsequent environmental influence. Nature Rousseau was one of the proponents of this view. He argued that children can discover how the world operates and how they should behave without instruction from adults. Arnold Gessell followed up on Rousseau’s view. He demonstrated that motor skills such as crawling, sitting, standing, walking, running, climbing and throwing occur in a fixed sequence in all children. The order of the stages and the age at which they develop, he argued, are determined by nature and are relatively unaffected by the environment. Influence of nature on development Nature (heredity) determines how much the individual can develop. Nature sets the upper and lower limits of an individual’s developmental potential. The sex of every individual is determined by nature. The nucleus of every human cell contains structures called chromosomes. A fertilized cell contains 46 chromosomes, 23 of which come from the female and 23 from the male cells. The female sex cells are all X (XX) Male sex cells comprise a combination of X and Y (XY) chromosomes. The male sex cell determines the sex of the child Influence of Nature on Development If the male contributes the X chromosomes, the result will be female (XX combination) On the other hand, a Y chromosome from the male will result in a boy child (XY) Certain diseases such as sickle cell, diabetes and heart disease may be inherited from parents. Abnormal number of chromosomes. A normal zygote is supposed to have a total of 46 chromosomes (23 each) In some cases, a child may be born with one chromosome, resulting in what is known as a chromosomal abnormality. Abnormal number of chromosomes can lead to; Down Syndrome, Turner’s Syndrome and Klinefelter’s Syndrome. Down Syndrome An individual suffering from Down’s Syndrome has 47 chromosomes instead of 46. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This condition is also called trisomy 21 because Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called “nondisjunction.” Nondisjunction results in an embryo with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two. Down Syndrome Turner’s Syndrome Turner syndrome, a condition that affects only females, results when one of the chromosomes (sex chromosomes) is missing or partially missing, resulting in (XO). Also known as 45, X or 45, X0 Turner syndrome can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems, including short height, failure of the ovaries to develop and heart defects. Wide or web-like neck Low-set ears Broad chest with widely-spaced nipples  Turner’s Syndrome Klinefelter’s Syndrome Klinefelter syndrome (KS), also known as 47, XXY or XXY, is a sex chromosome disorder in boys and men that results from the presence of an extra X chromosome in cells Most often, boys and men with Klinefelter syndrome have the usual X and Y chromosomes, plus one extra X chromosome, for 47 chromosomes (47, XXY). They mostly have underdeveloped testes, enlarged breasts, tall and thin Klinefelter’s Syndrome Nurture Nurture or environment implies any and every influence, which an individual meets after receiving hereditary patters through the genes. This influence first starts from the womb of the mother or what is called the prenatal environment. It also includes the effect of training, trial and error, influence of the home, school, neighborhood, hospital, church, playground, climate, geographical etc. Basically, nurture is the sum of all external conditions and influences that affect the life and development of a person. Psychologist who stick to this orientation play down on the contribution of hereditary factors (nature) in human development. Nurture John Locke believed that a human infant is born without knowledge or skills. To him, the child’s mind is a blank sheet of paper or a “tabula rasa.” What child comes to know and what will determine the child’s behavior results from learning and experiences. And what the child comes to know is, first of all, out there in the environment. The environment ‘writes on the blank paper, determining what the experiences are and how the child will act.’ Influence of Nurture on Human Development The first environmental For instance, if a pregnant The environment of the factors are found in the woman is attacked by mother’s womb can affect mother’s womb, where diseases such as rubella the potentials and nutrition, illness and drugs (German measles), smallpox, characteristics the child exert an influence on the etc., the child in the womb inherits through the genes. development of the child. may be affected. After birth, a lot of The child can be born environmental changes mentally retarded, physically threatens the smooth disabled or blind. growth and development of the child.