Shawn Brady
Dr. T. Millet
Developmental Psychology
October 19, 2010
The nurture versus nature argument is whether your genetics have more of an influence on the way you develop (Nature) or if the environment shapes human development more (Nurture). In modern psychology we have learned that both nurture and nature take a role in human development. In some cases nurture has more influence than nature and vice versa, in my case my love for martial arts comes from nature and my ability to accept all types of behaviors is from nurture.
First, I would say nature is most to blame for the reason why I have a passion for martial arts. Thanks to my genes I am quite muscular and low on body fat, so that would make me somewhat athletic. My body type gives me the opportunity to become good at any sport I attempt as long as I apply my mind. Due to that fact I have leaned towards martial arts and have made it my passion. I have taken kung fu and during my short training I was taken into a social group I normally would have never fallen into if I was not so physical adapted to the conditions. This group of people worshipped me, which displays how nature has affected my nurture. Also I ranked up fast which brought up my confidence, so when I talk, I feel I know what I am saying so I participate more and greet people more. Commonly I am viewed as friendly and a nice kid, but in my old school I am still one of the last options of people to fight. Sometimes I like to play with that and try to spar with people, but they are discouraged and sometimes people used to avoid me since they know I’d attack them for fun (playfully).
Secondly, nurture has influenced my development to the point where I have learned to accept most, if not all people no matter how different their behavior is. My parents weren’t very loving and this hurt me a lot, since I was always abused or mistreated. In school I used to name call and beat kids up, then when I received a call home, my parents would be waiting to do the same thing over. My school environment taught children that we are all different, but equal and should treat either other with mutual respect. We were taught to look at another’s perspective and as an abused child it was a bit easy to do, since I imagined everyone feeling how I did at school. This nurture I received from school reduced how much I relied on my physical traits (genetics) and allowed me to grow up to be who I am. Though I am quite peaceful, I never have a real need for my muscle though it is nice to have.
Nature and nurture plays many big roles in the development of human behavior and influences the perspective of an individual. No one’s life is completely influenced by either nature or nurture in anyone’s case. Nature and nurture are so entwined that they even have an effect on one another.
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