Question

1.Discuss the nature versus nurture debate and its relevance to psychology

2. Describe how the process of development begins including the key

elements of development (chromosomes, DNA, etc.)

3. Discuss the significance of twin research to the field of psychology and

what scientists have discovered about the similarities and differences of

identical twins

4. Discuss the origins of the gender differences scientists have discovered in

humans

Answer 1

Answer- 1- Nature versus nurture debate is a very old debate in the history of psychology. It is really difficult to decide whether human behaviour is determined by his genes or by environment. First of all, John Locke described in 1960 that according to human developmental psychology, the human behavioural traits develop due to environmental influences on his personality. The psychologists who supported nature as a main factor in human behavioural development explained that our genes determine our different traits of personality like eye colour, hair colour etc. However, it is not completely proved that the attributes like personality, intelligence, sexual behaviour etc are the result of our genes or our environment.

On the other hand, the nurture theory says that genetic influences on human behaviour may be true to some extent but the environmental factors are the real origins of the behaviour of an individual. This theory includes the use of conditioning for learning a new behaviour. The concept of nature versus nurture is very confusing and creates a doubt whether the behaviour is the result of the genes present in our DNA or it is originated on the basis of our experiences. Psychologists consider that human behaviour and personality traits are predetermined by our biological factors as well as the results of our lifetime experiences.