Pulling from the biological perspective, genetics is the study of heredity. Through these means, this paper explores the role that biological factors play in sex differences in mental health. In order to understand the effects of genes on an individual, the mediated effects of the environment are also taken into consideration. A major argument in the field of genetics is the nature vs. nurture debate regarding the role of genes and the environment that constitute the fate of an individual. Some research has found support for sex differences in depression accounted by differences in inheritance of depression, a benefit from twin studies (Rice, Harold, & Thapar, 2002). If depression runs in the biological family, then the chances of developing depression are much higher in that individual, regardless of sex.
Some studies have considered how the gene for a specific serotonin transporter can play a role in susceptibility to depression. Serotonin is a chemical important in balancing moods, and so it is believed that a deficiency in serotonin may be a cause for depression (McIntosh, 2015). The predictive role of serotonin in depression is exemplified by the monoamine hypothesis that biologically depression is due to lower levels of serotonin (Eley et al., 2010; McIntosh, 2015). For this reason, researchers have studied the effects that a serotonin gene transporter can have on depression
Early childhood experiences of maltreatment have been found to be strongly predictive of the
Nature or Nurture. Nature may be all of the genes and hereditary factors with which influence them to become who they are such as physical appearances and personality characteristics. Nurturing impacts people’s lives as well as how they are raised and all the environmental factors. In combination, these qualities can be the true identity of oneself. Many people may argue that nurture appears to a play huge factor in the two, but others may think otherwise. Not having both as a characteristic can have a negative effect on a person physically and mentally. The debate of nature versus nurture appears to be the oldest argument known to man, and it still remains to be unanswered. In the old-age argument nature versus nurture, nature may play a huge role in determining a person’s true identity.
Depression is a debilitating mental disorder, which can be detrimental to a person’s way of living. For example, depression can cause an individual to have negative thoughts, experience chronic distress, and hopelessness (Pourbabaee, n.d.). Researchers focus on two causes of depression. Those who support the cognitive-behavioral perspective believe depression results from faulty thinking associated with low self-esteem or learned helplessness, as well as environmental influences such as the loss of a loved one or a job. Whereas, those who support the biological perspective believe depression results from the genes a person inherits, chemical imbalances that change the functions of the brain, as well as damage to the anatomy of the brain.
In Nature vs. Nurture Debate by CommonLit Staff, the authors talks about the quarrels between nurture and nature, nurture being the development through “environmental influences”; meanwhile, nature being the traits passed down from biological parents to the child, and Huck’s nature side, in comparison, is more noticeable than his nurture side. Had Huck’s nurture side been more apparent than his nature side, he would be like just any other kids— one who follows the rules of society. Since his nature side is greater, even though readers do not know what his nature sides are, he is able to do whatever he wants. In Twain’s book, the Widow Douglas tries to civilize Huck, but he dislikes being civilized; therefore, his nature side is dominant which
The Nature versus Nurture debate concerns the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities versus personal experiences in determining or causing differences in physical and behavioral traits. (Ridley, Matt. "What Makes You Who You Are." Time Magazine. 25 May 2003).
On November 15, 1959, four members of the prosperous Clutter family were murdered for seemingly no reason. This led many people to come up with their own ideas of what happened that night. This debate may be answered by psychology. One question that psychologists have is whether people are controlled more by their nature-genetics-or nurture-how they were raised (Mcleod 1). This debate can be used to discuss the motive of murderers, and argue for or against the death penalty in their case. Richard ¨Dick¨ Hickock and Perry Edward Smith, the ¨Clutter Killers,¨ are a perfect example of the nature vs. nurture debate. Perry was more influenced by nurture, while Dick was more influenced by nature.
Does the environment that one grows up in contribute to alcoholism or is alcoholism determined by genetics? It wasn’t until 1991 that alcoholism was considered both a medical and psychiatric disease by the American Medical Association. Alcoholism is defined in the dictionary as a chronic disorder characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages, the development of withdrawal symptoms on reducing or ceasing intake, morbidity that may include cirrhosis of the liver, and decreased ability to function socially and vocationally. (dictionary.com). It is also defined as an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness
The nature vs. nurture debate has been a long and bloody battle for the longest time for psychologists. Some believe that we are the products of our environment, meaning that we become who we are as a result of our upbringing, social influences, and schooling among other factors. On the other hand, the naturists believe that outside influences have nothing to do with how we turn out; it all depends on our genes. One psychologist, however, has made the attempt to bridge these two sides together. Robert Plomin’s work in genetics and psychology has helped people understand the roles the environment and genetics play in areas such as education, behavior, and development.
The debate between the roles of nature and nurture in human development is one of the oldest arguments in the field of anthropology (Sincero, 2012). Villines (2014) argues in his article that this debate should be retired altogether, since it is impossible to neatly separate the nature from nurture. This essay aims to critically evaluate the relationship between biological natures and nurture which specifically focusing on culture with respect to a controversial topic of eating disorder; anorexia nervosa. People suffering from anorexia nervosa often being associated with excessive food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain and obsession of having a slender figure which recent research has shown that personality trait, media influence, culture and genetics factors all contributing to its prevalence (National Institute of Mental Health, 2001; Joy, 2006). As of now, we know that both nature and nurture are the contribution factors to the development of anorexia nervosa, but what is yet to discover is whether eating disorder developed majorly because of nature or due to nurture. Therefore, in order to critically assess and find a solid answer to this matter, the first part of the essay will examine the aspect of nature, in particular the coding of genes in us humans which might contribute to the development and continuance of anorexia nervosa. The second part of the essay will then focus on the discussion that culture on the other hand also plays an important
Susan Evers and Sharon McKendrick, the famous identical twins from the movie The Parent Trap, were separated at a young age by their divorcing parents. Sharon grew up in Boston to a socialite mother while Susan grew up in California on her father’s ranch. Sharon had structure while Susan’s life was very laid back. They looked the same and liked many of the same things, yet their personalities were very different. What is responsible for these differences? Is it simply that they are two different people with different interests and preferences? Or did the environments that they grew up in play a part in making who they are? In the nature vs. nurture controversy, nature proclaims that our genetic make-up plays the primary role in human
1. Some people have argued that the Johns Hopkins psychologist used this opportunity as an experiment to test his nurture theory of gender identity. What are the expected results of this experiment, assuming that the nurture theory is valid?
For years, the nature vs. nurture debate has always been a topic that biologists and psychologists cannot come to an agreement on. There have been many controversies that suggest that criminals are born and not made. Some biologists believe that it can be predicted whether or not a baby will grow up to have aggressive behavior by conducting research on them before they are born. In the early 20th century, biologists who supported the nature side of the debate were the same ones who believed traits such as learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and criminality were a drain on public resources . As a result, researchers believed they could ultimately control which human genes were passed on by using forced sterilization on women. However,
The Nature vs. Nurture has been a long never ending debate for some time now. Nature vs Nurture has been so profoundly debated, that now it’s unclear whether what makes us who we are and what we do, nature or nurture. For purposes of this essay Nature is going to be defined as characteristics we acquire through our genetic and biological factors, while that Nurture is going to be defined characteristics we acquire through our interactions and influences with the environment. There are endless ways of taking an approach to the Nature vs Nurture conflict, thus the reason that it’s truly unclear if its Nature or Nurture or even both what makes us who and what we are.
Galton, unlike the previous philosophers who have postulated nature and nurture as a “versus” battle, stated that both the nature and the nurture play a role in human development of traits. However, Galton’s line of questioning of “how much” of nature or nurture affects our trait development has also been rendered faulty, as recent research have proposed that there is a symbiotic relationship between the biological factors and environmental factors, where nature and nurture are constantly cooperating and interacting with each other to produce both biological and behavioural traits. This is a revolutionary discovery that could finally be the solution to this long-standing ‘nature vs nurture’ debate. This proposed solution is known as epigenetics.
“Twins have been the heart and soul of the nature versus nurture debate for over a century” (Plicher 1). Scientists and psychologists believe that because identical twins share 100% of the same genes, that studying twins, would benefit in proving the theory. Twins that are separated at birth end up living in different environments. Because they grow up differently, scientists and psychologists are able to analyze the genetic and environmental influences that shape the twins personalities. Even though the discussion of the nature versus nurture topic has not yet been proven, some feel nurture wins. The study of twins contributes to the debate of nature versus nurture and whether the environment or genetics affects the development of personality.
Aim: To calculate meta-analytic estimates of heritability in liability and shared an individual – specific environmental effects from the pooled twin data.