Final Argumentative Essay

Abstract

The controversy issue on nature versus nurture has been said to date back to the early  philosophers and scientists who believed that human beings gain everything from their personal experience, which most people would refer to as the nurture side. Therefore, in this paper, I will address the affects that nurture has on a person by discussing the several factors: personality, intelligent, and skill has on a child's development. 

Keywords: nature, nurture, parent's behavior, culture

Nature vs. Nurture: Genes or Environment?

Johnny Rich, the author of The Human Script once said “You inherit your environment just as much as your genes.” Over the years, there has been a constant battle among philosophers and scientists on whether heredity or environment plays a greater role on a person’s personality or physical traits. This debate is known as nature versus nurture. Some people strictly believe  that their genes such as eye color, hair color, and skin color influences who they are, whereas others believe that a person’s surroundings and life experiences affects them. Either way, when it comes down to the argument of nature versus nurture, nurture plays more of a vital role in shaping and define a person’s ability, development, personality, and intelligent due to outside factors that are shown in the environment.

 First and Foremost, the growing ability that an individual has to their environment allow them to expand in regards to intelligent. In the article on nature versus nurture, the author shows how "nurture" shapes a person's IQ. It states, “A child’s intelligence is shaped, challenged, and expressed every day by experiences with people, objects, and events-especially when he is an active participant” (Dupre, p. 525). Thus, proving that a person is able to learn more effectively from what they see and pick up from their environment than what they actually inherited at birth.

In Addition, to the text, a study was performed at Florida State University in 2016 that showed how a person is raised can affect their intelligence in life. It states “[A] criminology professor Kevin Beaver analyzed a group of adopted children from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health along with one comprised from a nationally representative sample of youths and discovered that IQ is affected by how a child is raised. Reading to your child and having family dinners are great ways to connect with one another, and they have a significant on your child’s intelligence as he grows older”(Smee, p.310). Therefore, this proves how "nurture" contribute and increase a child's IQ.                                                                                         Twins Studies

Figure 1

Further, a person’s surrounding can also influence and effect their personality. According to a study of twins, it was found in identical twins that were raised together , display many different and unique personalities. As shown in figure 1, Sol and Luna look even much alike and share many common traits But, display different taste and dislikes such as "Sol is adventurous," is much more of a troublemaker. Luna, on the other hand, is more sensitive and she is more independent than her sister." The author concludes that even though these twins share the same genes, they responsible differently to their environment. Researchers also suggest that “more than 49 percent of the human traits are genetic while the rest 51 percent environmental”( Tinglof, 2016) Thus, showing that nurture play a greater role on the human personality. 

Figure 2

Also, in figure 2, it is also shown in fraternal twins that are raised together develop different personalities. F or example, “[T]win A is extremely articulate, engaging, and very charming when he wants to be, whereas [t]win B, can be very impulsive, immature and silly” (Sassman, 2015). Therefore, proving that twins don't share the same traits.

Figure 3

 In additionally, human being are also able to gain a lot from their life experiences and develop many astonishing skills. In the Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, which states that “Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level mastery associated with being a world class expert in anything” (11-12). People are simply not born with gifts, it takes the ongoing of developing skills of concentration and resilient to developed superhuman abilities. He also goes on to argue how although some individuals might have skills that allows them to success in certain areas, it can only improve is all based on environmental factors because that want really makes an athlete great. In figure 3, it illustrate how footballs players have to go through a lot of  training in order to get better and improve on their skill Thus, a long amount of practice is acquire for a person to fully grasp a skill. As Tupac Shakur once said “Practice makes perfect, the more you practice, the better your skills are.”

            Furthermore, Malcolm Gladwell also states, “that success is because of the contributions of lots of different people and a lots of different circumstances” (Outliers, 12-15). For instance, coaches, parents, culture, and age that “nurture” an athlete’s ability.

                                                            

     

Figure 4

             Hence, coaches are vital to the athlete’s development. They serve as teachers, mentors, and confidante that helps the athlete to go beyond their full potential and advance to a higher level of achievement. Mostly, the best athletes that we know such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson, all had some sort of the best coaches that allow them to improve on their performance but also encourage them to do their best. In figure 4, it is show that the coach is guiding his team on what to do in order to win the game. Thus, sport coaches play a very integral part in the human development, and the influence that they can have on a child can go a long way. On top of that, parents also provides the child the valuable resources that they need to improve over time. As well as the monetary means to stay involved in whatever sport that they want to be a part of. In the article on nature versus nurture, the author states, “Parenting plays a tremendous role in activating a child’s unique talents. The quality of parenting unquestionably makes a difference”(Dodge, p.418). Therefore, this shows how parents can have a heavy influence on their child’s growth and success in life.

Lastly, culture. Culture is refer to the beliefs or values that more than one group share. Therefore, culture is consider to be a major aspect that shapes and influences an athletic skill because it is due to their culture that certain athletics are able to learn and excel quicker than others.

Counterclaim and Rebuttal

On the other hand, some might argue that people are born with their individual’s qualities such as personality, intelligent, and skills which is simple not true. Again and again past history has shown that the environment that a person’s live in influences their personal character. Although genes seems to play a map for person’s life in determining their physical attributes, it doesn’t define how they would turn out in life. As shown with the Sol and Luna twins, they display different personality even thought they share many physical appearances. In Tinglof text, it states, " Even if you have the genes for a certain trait, it doesn't mean you would get it based on   just that, you have to take into consideration the environment that you are raised and brought up in. Further, when discussing how IQ and skills are develop in a person. You should know that experience is also need for anybody to get good at a sport or any profession. Thus, "nurture" has more of an influential role on a person's human development. 

To conclude, nurture plays a greater role in defining and shaping a person’s skills, personality, and human intelligent. In other words, genes does not grant a person their personality and behavior, but it is their environment and life experiences that molds who they are and how they are going to turn out in the future. So to join the ranks of people such as Dwayne Wade, Shaquille O'Neal, and Chris Paul, you have to put the effort to improve your skills and intelligence.

 References

Dodge, A. K. (2014, Oct). The nature-nurture debate and public policy. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, (p. 418).

Dupre, J. ( 2015, March). Review of Aaron Gillette, Eugenics and the nature-nurture debate in the twentieth century 2015. Human Genetics, (pp. 525).

Sassman, B. (2015, June 22). The surprising effect of ‘nature vs. nurture’ on twins. Retrieved March 16, 2017, from http://www.today.com/health/effect-nature-vs-nurture-twins-america-t27946

           Smee, O. F.J. (2015, May). The Nature of Nurture. British Journal of Psychology, (pp.310).

Tinglof, C.B. (2016, December 26). When Your Twins Have Opposite Personalities. Retrieved March 16, 2017, from http://christinabaglivitinglof.com/when-your-twins-have-opposite-personalities/

Gladwell, M. (2009). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown and Company, (pp.304)e, environmental