Nature's and Nurture's Roles in Human Development

The Role of Nature and Nurture in Human Development

The contribution of nature and nurture to human development has sparked endless debates over the years, but no one has determined which of the two factors plays a more significant role in human development than the other (Mojica, 2017).

Distinct Occurrence of Nature and Nurture

In an ideal world, both nature and nurture play important roles in personal development. The two, however, are distinct in that they occur at various times and stages in human evolution. Most of this discussion focuses on the roles of design and nurture in personal development. Interestingly, multiple psychologists claim that a child's mind is always blank before the start of human development but that it fills with knowledge and understanding over time. Therefore, nature and nurture related, and in most cases, either of them supports the other to complete the personal evolution cycle (Zaky, 2015).

Nature: Genetic Compositions

In the light of this, nature consists of the genetic compositions that a person inherits from his or her parents during conception. Such genetically inherited attributes may include gender and skin color among others. On the other hand, nurture comprises of the environmental factors that are subjected to a person immediately after birth. Such factors may include the physical and social environments that influence human development. While nature produces infants, nurture takes them through their development stages in practice and experience. Despite having significant differences, both nature and nurture play significant roles in human development.

Nurture: Environmental Aspects

Fundamentally, nature entails the genetic attributes that are passed from the parents to their offspring. Indisputably, a person's genetic makeup is not influenced by external factors but remains intact throughout the human development process. Genetic characteristics and tendencies are common in all individuals. For instance, after birth, all kids can learn a few basic things through practice including learning to walk, drawing inferences, and talking among others. Therefore, when combined with the appropriate environment, human genetic compositions and other hereditary factors transform children into intelligent human species. In the light of this, nature plays a vital role in turning a fetus into a normal adult that may possess unique talents and characteristics (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010).

On the hand, nurture considers the environmental aspects that influence human development, (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010). Notably, not all inherited characteristics are evident at birth. Though the genetic compositions carry most of the aspects that define and develop a person, certain elements must be triggered by environmental factors during the maturation process. In the light of this, nurturing entails the environmental aspects that play a significant role in human development. As well, since nature does not work alone, nurture will trigger particular aspects of genetic factors by providing the environment that is important for maturation to occur, (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010). Such elements include free and safe surroundings, diet and relationships with other people.

Influence of Environmental Factors

Indisputably, environmental factors and external experiences influence the well-being and development cycles of children, their health, and the curiosity of their minds. In the light of this, nurture influences human development by applying various channels that include physical channels through diet and activity, social channels through relationships and human interactions and intellectual channels by way of formal or informal experiences. Though some psychologists believe that genetic factors are responsible for growth, others think that the environment influences the growth and character of the child. Thus, the nurturing process is vital to human development since it provides the environment that is necessary to influence the transformation of a child into an adult.

Interaction of Nature and Nurture

Developmental theorists appreciate the importance of the interaction of nature and nurture in the development of human beings. Though both carry unique roles in human development, none can work without the other, and therefore, total human development is realized when heredity factors and the environment work dependently (Lerner, 2002). Markedly, when genetic compositions interact with various aspects of the external environment, it is likely that nature forms a foundation for which the aspects of nurture work to influence human development through introducing human characteristics such as discipline, talent, and behavior (Raeff, 2016). For example, perfect pitch is not only the product of genes associated with tones and steps but also it is perfected through training and practice. In this case, the interaction occurs when the specific gene interacts with a nurturing process in the form of training to bring out the talent in the human being (Raeff, 2016). Children are born with a combination of genes derived from their parents. However, to realize the full potential of their lives, there have to be unique experiences in their environments to create a way of expressing their unique traits through the discovery of talent. Therefore, the interaction of nature and nurture play essential roles in human development as it brings out the qualities and skills in an individual.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is undeniable that nature and nurture are essential for human development. In essence, hereditary factors produce the child that carries the genetic combinations of its parents and which are responsible for different traits. Also, the environment in which the child is raised is crucial in the sense that it provides the experiences and activities that are necessary to transform the child into an adult with talent and observable traits. Thus, nature and nurture play crucial roles in developing human beings.

References:


  • Lerner, Richard M. 2002. Concepts And Theories Of Human Development. 3rd ed. London: Lawrence Erlbaum, Publishers. Retrieved October 28, 2017 (https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=K9bon0TH_S0C&pg=PT70&dq=roles+of+nature+and+nurture+in+human+development&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=roles%20of%20nature%20and%20nurture%20in%20human%20development&f=false).

  • McDevitt, T.M., and J.E. Ormrod. 2010. "Nature And Nurture." Education.com. Retrieved October 28, 2017 (https://www.education.com/reference/article/nature-nurture/).

  • Mojica, Stephanie. 2017. "How Do Nature And Nurture Influence Human Development? A Discussion With Examples." Bright Hub. Retrieved October 28, 2017 (http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/110288.aspx).

  • Raeff, Catherine. 2016. Exploring The Dynamics Of Human Development: An Integrative Approach. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved October 28, 2017 (https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=M0snDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA140&dq=roles+of+nature+and+nurture+in+human+development&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=roles%20of%20nature%20and%20nurture%20in%20human%20development&f=false).

  • Zaky, Eman Ahmed. 2015. "Nature, Nurture, And Human Behavior; An Endless Debate." Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior 03(06):1-5. Retrieved October 28, 2017 (https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/nature-nurture-and-human-behavior-an-endless-debate-2375-4494-1000e107.pdf).

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