Nature Vs. Nurture Controversy
Nature vs. Nurture
Are behaviors inbred, written permanently in our genes as absolute biological imperatives, or is the environment more important in shaping our thoughts and actions? Such questions cycle through society repeatedly, forming the infamous "nature vs. nurture controversy." It is very apparent that nature is responsible for numerous physical behaviors, including homosexuality, aggression, impulsivity, and nurturing. The theory that nature is accountable for behavior is demonstrated through the reproduction of certain behaviors in successive generations of organisms. Consider the instinctive retrieval behavior of a yellow Labrador or the herding posture of a border collie. Behaviors change in response to alterations in biological structures or processes. In addition, a brain injury can turn a polite, knowledgeable adult …show more content…
While the human brain is able to change the strengths of its connections as the result of learning and experience, it still is not a complete product of experience. Studies of the brains of twins have shown that much of the variation in the amount of gray matter in the prefrontal lobes is genetically caused. These variations are not just random differences in anatomy like fingerprints; they correlate significantly with differences in intelligence. People born with variations in the typical brain plan can vary in the way their minds work. For instance, homosexual men are likely to have a relatively small nucleus in the anterior hypothalamus, a nucleus known to have a role in sex differences. Convicted murderers and other violent, antisocial people are likely to have a relatively small and inactive prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs decision-making and inhibits impulses. These facts imply that differences in intelligence, scientific genius, sexual orientation, and impulsive violence are not entirely
Are behaviors inbred, written permanently in our genes as absolute biological imperatives, or is the environment more important in shaping our thoughts and actions? Such questions cycle through society repeatedly, forming the infamous "nature vs. nurture controversy." It is very apparent that nature is responsible for numerous physical behaviors, including homosexuality, aggression, impulsivity, and nurturing. The theory that nature is accountable for behavior is demonstrated through the reproduction of certain behaviors in successive generations of organisms. Consider the instinctive retrieval behavior of a yellow Labrador or the herding posture of a border collie. Behaviors change in response to alterations in biological structures or processes. In addition, a brain injury can turn a polite, knowledgeable adult …show more content…
While the human brain is able to change the strengths of its connections as the result of learning and experience, it still is not a complete product of experience. Studies of the brains of twins have shown that much of the variation in the amount of gray matter in the prefrontal lobes is genetically caused. These variations are not just random differences in anatomy like fingerprints; they correlate significantly with differences in intelligence. People born with variations in the typical brain plan can vary in the way their minds work. For instance, homosexual men are likely to have a relatively small nucleus in the anterior hypothalamus, a nucleus known to have a role in sex differences. Convicted murderers and other violent, antisocial people are likely to have a relatively small and inactive prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that governs decision-making and inhibits impulses. These facts imply that differences in intelligence, scientific genius, sexual orientation, and impulsive violence are not entirely