Nature or Nurture Will Smith/Chris Rock | Study Coach Education

Are we a product of our genetic makeup or is it our environment that shapes us? Study Coach takes a look at the old philosophical debate, nature versus nurture, otherwise referred to as Nativism v Empiricism debate. The Oscars event between Will Smith and Chris Rock, left me thinking about the role nature and nurture might play in personality development. For students studying GCSE Psychology or an Access course you will no doubt spend some time learning about nature and nurture. If you are a Lifelong learner with limited knowledge about nature v nurture you should also find the following to be of some value. GCSE students and Further Education students should also find this blog of some use. 

Study Coach and Morel Benard

Morel is an educator here at Study Coach UK, empowering students to raise assignment grades. Writing poetry is also something that Morel does. Here is a little verse in respect of Will and Chris at the Oscars:  

Will & Chris at the Oscars

(Will the Rock be Shaken) 

The stage is set, the two players are here
Will is on the right, but does he have the might
To enter centre stage to defend his family name
Is this a comedy of errors, David and Goliath
Or will the script be edited, suddenly changed
Will the Rock be shaken or remained unmoved
Is this Oscar performance breaking every rule
The audience whisper, let’s send in the clowns
The Oscars will certainly make tomorrow’s news
(Morel Benard)

Nature v Nurture

Psychological approaches will interpret Will’s behaviour in a similar way and differently. The main psychological approaches will also take a position on whether we are a product of our ancestors or a product of our environment. For example the biological approach takes a nature position, whilst the behaviourist approach is entirely on the side of nurture. The behaviourist approach does acknowledge that the potential for learning is innate. 

Cognitive Approach 

The cognitive approach will argue that the structure of the mental system is innate (nature). Its development, however, is a response to experience. Therefore indicating a combination of both nature and nurture (Interactionist).  

Psychoanalytic 

In respect of the psychoanalytic approach (usually associated with Freud) it combines both nature and nurture in the view that innate, sexual forces are modified by experience to produce adult personality.

The evolutionary approach is clearly nature (nativism).

Humanistic Psychology

Maslow gives us the hierarchy of needs to be found in humanistic approach; humanism is developed by Rogers. The Humanistic approach emphasises nurture but holds certain views about the nature of humankind. The human being is seen in a positive light, inclined towards psychological good health, and has the potential for self-actualisation.

From a social constructionist approach, we are shaped by our environment, therefore supporting the nurture argument, whereby social forces shape us.

Human Behaviour Will Smith/Chris Rock 

Human behaviour refers to all of the things that people do. There are many ways of explaining why certain people do things in certain ways. Some biologists think that people behave as they do because people act according to animal instincts, this is known as a Nature theory of human behaviour. Most sociologists believe that people do certain things and think certain things because they are taught to do them. This is known as a Nurture theory of human behaviour. Sociologists think that people act as they do because they learned to be the people that they are.

Biologists put forward nature explanations of human behaviour. They say that people behave the way they do because they are just animals (I‘m sure you don’t believe that people are animals). Biologists say that men are aggressive because they have different hormones. I wonder if Will Smith behaviour will be deemed to be aggressive, he did slap the comedian Chris Rock. It is possible that the general public might not consider the behaviour (slap on the face) to be an act of aggression, some people might wish to excuse the behaviour, given the standing of Smith as an A list actor. What do you think?   

Nurture (Learning Behaviour)

Nurture means the way you were brought up. Sociologists say that some people were brought up to be kind and others are brought up to be tough.

Children are made to be the people they are by others around them telling them what is right and wrong. 

Nature

Anthropologists are people who study and compare societies from all over the world. If our behaviour was in our genes (nature) then people all around the world would behave in the same way. Anthropologists show that people behave differently in different societies. For example, people living in cold climate countries can be different to people living in warm climates.

If our behaviour is just to do with nature, then people who are brought up without other people will be expected to behave as other people do. The sad case of Ukraine girl Oxana Malaya, clearly shows that genetics alone will not create a socialised human. 

Ukraine – Oxana (Girl/Dog)

Oxana Malaya was born November 1983, in Ukraine, (old Russia), according to medical records Oxana was a normal child at birth. But at age 3, she was neglected by her alcoholic father and a Mother who was perhaps too timid to stand up for her child. Oxana was neglected and this led to 3 year old Oxana living in the backyard of the house surrounded by dogs – Oxana was found by the local authorities living with the dogs when she seven and a half years old. When they found Oxana she could not talk, lacked basic skills and she physically behaved like a dog. Meaning that the child at age 7 and a half was running around on all fours, barking, she slept on the floor and she ate and took care of her hygiene like a dog. Oxana was mentally disabled, displaying behavioural, social and educational issues. She has now learnt to speak fluently and works on a farm tending to animals, but she remains intellectually impaired. 

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