Question

I have to write a 1000 word essay using at least one example to describe how beliefs about biological determinism can affect empathy

Answer 1

Answer- Biological determinism defines that human behaviour is controlloed by their genes or the components of their physiology. It oposses the belief that human behaviour is determined by social and cultural factors. This topic is highly controversial. The concept of biological determinism was given by Austrian biologist August Weismann. He explained that two different types of cells are responsible for biological determinism, first, somatic cells which carry the ordinary functions of the body and DNA which helps to trasmit the information of heredity. Although the first traces were found by aristotle.

Biological determinism has been proved invalid scientifically in terms of racial categories. But in some areas, it is a part of genetical research for scientists. The people who agree with biological determinism, believe that human behaviour is influenced by hormones, neurotransmitters, brain structure and genes. But many researchers believe that genetical factors and environmental factors are not two opposite parts of human personality but these are interrelated and work together for the proper functioning of human brain and behaviour. It is believed that genes can also be controlled by the environment which controls our behaviour. The term empathy is also affected by biological determinism. They believe that some people are born with more empathetic while some are not. According to biological determinism, social and environmental factors do not influence empathy of an individual. Empathy refers to understand the situations and feelings of others in a positive way but biological determinism applied to negative physiological and psychological traits. According to them empathy is also a part of human brain and no environmental factor affect it. Biological determinists found that females are more empathetic than males. According to biological determinism it is brain which makes a person more or less empathetic. For example, when you see some one in trouble, you may feel sorry for them while at the same time any other person is not feeling any sympathy or he is less worried about that person. According to biological determinism, it is our brain and genes which originate the feeling of empathy and our environmental and social factors do not affect it.

Finally, we can say that our genes and neurons are not completely develop our personality but our social environment is equally resposible for it. Both inner and outer factors are important for personality development.