Draft #1

Yanna Sanchez

Ms. Nargiza Matyakuboya

English 21003. Section M

25 October 2017

Draft #1

Is This Your Fault

Or

Your Parents Fault?

            Human behavior has been studied since Charles Darwin’s theory on the evolution of human beings.  Darwin states in, On the Origin of Species in 1859, “psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by gradation” (Darwin, 1859).  Based on the theory of evolution Christian Spahn states in “Nature and Nurture,” the controversy between nature and nurture can be understood that humans through evolution, were equipped with the necessary biological knowledge, and were “culturally processed” in human behavior (939).  Furthermore, based on this understanding, one can state that an individual’s “nature requires nurture” (Spahn 939).

            A major component of an individual’s personality is based off on their physical appearance that derived from their inherited DNA, the genetic code found in every living organism.  It is common knowledge that physical attributes are due to an individual’s set of parents, inheriting height, complexion, eye color, hair texture and color.  These inherited traits form an individual’s physical appearance which creates their identity.

            An individual’s identity through early development is also nurtured by their parents.  Through parental nurturing an individual acquires knowledge and experiences.  An individual learns how to talk and walk based on the environmental conditions a parent has created.  Individuals walk and talk the way their parents have nurtured them too. 

            Psychologist have categorized, main personality traits, into ‘The Big Five’ (Donnellan 68).  ‘The Big Five Traits’ are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientious, neuroticism, and openness.  Researcher Donnellan discusses how neurotransmitters, brain structures, and neural activations are all linked to a variety of genes (68).  Therefore, these traits predict a wide range of important life outcomes and situations of success, delinquency, and health. 

            Research indicates that an individual’s educational background exhibit traits related to their biological nature and cultured environment.  Studies show that people who have parents that were successful in school have offspring that have the same capabilities.  Mark Runco in “Nature vs. Nurture” in The International Encyclopedia of The Social Sciences 2^nd Edition that twins even when separated at birth and raised separately were tested later in life and their IQ scores were quite similar in the same areas.

            However, based on Susan Lang in the article “Researchers Challenge Nature vs. Nurture” genetics just means that an individual has the capabilities to learn the information, however the cultured environment is what actualizes the potential.  With the same token, capabilities and abilities of an individual can only be measured after it has been actualized, potential that has not been actualized cannot be monitored (Lang).  This implies that studies can only evaluate one side of the theory.

            “The function behavior we observe comes from its experience in interacting with the environment” states Thomas Gruber in “Nature, Nurture, and Knowledge” (191).  Therefore, based on the behavior individuals exhibit researchers and simply observers can conclude these intellectual behaviors are due to the environment.  An individual’s educational background importance in their personality or identity increases as they progress through life. 

            Research also indicates that an individual’s career path is also dependent on their biological nature and their cultured environment.  Based on “Nature, Nurture, and Expertise” by Nicholas Shakeshaft, scientist have come to accept that human behavior is heavily dependent on both nature and nurture (115).  Researcher Donnellan emphasizes the level of importance of childhood development and its importance to adulthood (72).  The Big Five Traits developed are directly correlated to adulthood successes. 

            Donnellan discusses how throughout a person’s lifetime certain traits will become decreasingly apparent will others become more apparent this typically happens during their twenties (72).  Traits such as quarrelsome, disorganized, and careless decrease as an individual grows older, while self-discipline, reliable, and sympathetic increase.  These factors are the reasons why individuals are successful in their lives with careers and relationships.