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Nature Vs Nature
Nature vs Nature Nature v.s. Nurture: Psychologists have often questioned whether personality traits are inherited, and therefore a result of genetics, or if they are caused by the environment, and are therefore made. This has come to be known as the nature versus nurture controversy. Many psychologists throughout history have asked this question, and most agree the answer is both. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- * © Copyright DueNow.com Inc. * [Category]: Psychology [Paper Title]: Nature v.s. Nurture [Text]: Nature vs. Nurture Psychologists have often questioned whether personality traits are inherited, and therefore a result of genetics, or if they are caused by the environment, and are therefore made. This has come to be known as the nature versus nurture controversy. Many psychologists throughout history have asked this question, and most agree the answer is both. Nature versus nurture has been an on going argument for over a century and will carry on further. Scientists have been unable to conclude this question of which carries most responsibility for behavior. The argument of nature versus nurture is examined through the role of genetics in one’s personality. Then the role of environment in a one’s personality. Finally showing how both nature and nurture coincide to influence behavior in children, that the genetic makeup shapes one’s personality, thus determining how their environment is perceived. Though one’s personality is not determined strictly by genetics, there is more evidence to support the idea that personality is inherited than there is to support the idea personality is made based on the environment and based on one’s experience. Many experiments and studies have been done to determine where one’s personality stems from, yet, few studies have been as effective as those studies based on twins, and adopted children. Both types of studies are extremely successful in determining where one’s personality comes from. In a twins study, the genes are regulated while in an adoption study the environment is regulated. Thus, question comes of introverted and extroverted personalities. (Plomin,1993) One who is introverted is often thought to be someone that keeps to himself and rarely chooses to socialize in large groups. He is thought to be a longer and in many cases to lack the social skills necessary to enjoy himself in situations that are new to him. In reality, someone who is an introvert is simply more affected by stimuli than someone who is an extrovert. While an extrovert may be able to study in a noisy environment with many interruptions and distractions, an introvert is more likely to opt for a quiet corner of the library, free of extemporaneous noise. A study was conducted that tested identical adult twins pairs that had been raised living apart from one another (Plomin, 1993). The twins were given self report tests to rate the extent to which they felt that they had grown up in an environment that was based around acceptance or rejection. In addition to testing these two traits, the extent to which their parents disciplined the twins was also tested. The reason for the self report tests to be centered around these topics because Plomin thought that it was important to determine a correlation between the environment one is raised in, and one’s personality. Plomin tested 59 pairs of identical twins reared apart and 142 pairs of fraternal twins reared apart. What Plomin discovered was that traits once thought to be created based on the environment that one lives in, are really “influenced by genetic factors” (Plomin and Bergman, 1991). Many of the twins studied were said to have similar personalities, yet because they were raised apart, the only basis for the similarity is a genetic one. Though the twin studies were successful in proving that personality is in fact genetically based, many scientists were not convinced that one’s genes are the only factor that create one’s personality. Because “twins share the same womb, birth date and family, many pos... This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Academic Library. Please register below now!
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