Research Proposal

Yanna Sanchez

Ms. Nargiza Matyakuboya

English 21003. Section M

25 October 2017

Research Proposal

How Much of This is 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).  Is an individual’s personality and behavior based on Nature, Nurture, or both?

            An individual’s personality is primarily and foremost based off of their physical appearance.  I intend to discuss inherited traits to explain the nature aspect involved, for example hair color, eye color, height.  To further explain this information, I will use information from International Encyclopedia of The Social Sciences.  I intend to introduce early childhood development, with regards’ to learning for example walking and talking. I will use information from “Trait impulsivity and The Externalizing Spectrum” by Theodore P. Beauchaine.  Finishing with how nature aspects and nurtured aspects relate to one’s personality.

            An individual’s personality or identity, is also based off of their educational background.  I would like to explore any correlation between a parent’s educational background and the offspring’s, from a biological stand point to explain the “nature” aspect involved.  Using information from “Nature, Nurture, and Knowledge” by Thomas R. Gruber and “Nature, Nurture, and Expertise” by Nicolas Shakeshaft.  I will follow up with nurtured aspects related to educational background, including the negative findings.  Incorporating information from “Its nature and nurture: integrating biology and genetics into social learning theory of criminal behavior” by Bryanna Fox.  Then finishing with the relation of the nature aspects and nurtured aspects of an individual’s educational background. 

            Lastly, the career path an individual chooses is also based on their personality and is a component of said individual’s identity.  Discussing the correlation between parents’ success and offsprings’ success, on a biological level.  I will use information from “Personality Development” by Donnellan.  Finishing with a relation of information to personality traits. 

Bibliography

Beauchaine, Theodore P., et al. “Trait Impulsivity and the Externalizing Spectrum.” Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, vol. 13, 2017, pp. 343–368.

[ Bruce Evans ]. “In Nature vs. Nurture, Learned Behaviors Rule.” Fire Chief, vol. 48, no. 7, 2004, pp. 20,22.

Donnellan, M B, and R W Robins. "Personality Development." Encyclopedia of Human Behavior, edited by V. S. Ramachandran, 2nd ed., vol. 3, Academic Press, 2012, pp. 68-73. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CCX2940400248&it=r&asid=9c3a886d08bb55e750826d45f4ad742d. Accessed 27 Oct. 2017.

Fox, Bryanna. “It's Nature and Nurture: Integrating Biology and Genetics into the Social Learning Theory of Criminal Behavior.” Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 49, 2017, pp. 22–31.

Gass, Saul I. “Model World: The Hidden Ingredient and Nature vs. Nurture.” Interfaces, vol. 37, no. 6, 2007, pp. 577–581. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20141548.

Gruber, Thomas R. “Nature, Nurture, and Knowledge Acquisition.” International Journal of Human - Computer Studies, vol. 71, no. 2, 2013, pp. 191–194.

Harari, Yaniv, et al. “Nature vs Nurture: Interplay between the Genetic Control of Telomere Length and Environmental Factors.” Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.), vol. 12, no. 22, 2013, pp. 3465–70.

Kepple, Nancy J. “Does Parental Substance Use Always Engender Risk for Children? Comparing Incidence Rate Ratios of Abusive and Neglectful Behaviors across Substance Use Behavior Patterns.” Child Abuse &Amp; Neglect, vol. 76, 2018, pp. 44–55.

Lang, Susan S. "Researchers challenge nature vs. nurture argument." Human Ecology Forum, vol. 23, no. 3, 1995, p. 3. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA18129921&it=r&asid=f16b65b4317ea3b0f22f2d3548b290b0. Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.

Malti, and Dys. “From Being Nice to Being Kind: Development of Prosocial Behaviors.” Current Opinion in Psychology, vol. 20, 2018, pp. 45–49.

"Nature Vs. Nurture." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity, Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 5, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 445-446. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3045301716&asid=818db402a1a75ac896cb241962d4848e. Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.

Nature and Nurture in Early Child Development, edited by Daniel P. Keating, Cambridge University Press, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ccny-ebooks/detail.action?docID=667623.

Peyser, Marc, and Anne Underwood. "Shyness, sadness, curiosity, joy: is it nature or nurture?" Newsweek, Spring-Summer 1997, p. 60+. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA19324386&it=r&asid=4b476b02a37babc8f7ff05b9db89c6c7. Accessed 27 Oct. 2017.

Plomin, Robert and John Crabbe. "DNA." Psychological Bulletin, vol. 126, no. 6, Nov. 2000, pp. 806-828. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/0033-2909.126.6.806.

Spahn, Christian. "Sociobiology: Nature and Nurture." 21st Century Anthropology: A Reference Handbook, edited by H. James Birx, vol. 2, SAGE Reference, 2010, pp. 938-949. 21st Century Reference Series. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX1700500120&sid=GVRL&asid=d5967ddb35da7fd5dfa08028e8d702b7. Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.

Symonds, Percival M., and Ordway Rugg, Harold. “Nature vs. Nurture.” Nature vs. Nurture, vol. 17, no. 7, 1926, pp. 498–500.

Waxman, SR (2015), Abandoning the ‘theoretical apartheid’ between nature and nurture: human infants hold the key. Social Anthropology/Anthropologie Sociale, 23, 213–215. doi: 10.1111/1469-8676.12122.

Wilkoff, William G. "Nature vs. nurture." Pediatric News, Oct. 2011, p. 23. Nursing and Allied HealthCollection, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=PPNU&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA272077553&it=r&asid=67b5b7620e68022d3cad099861ad066a. Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.