Issues On Human Development

Issues on Human Development
 INTRODUCTION
Each of us has his/her own way of looking at our own and other people’s development.
These paradigms(model) of human development while obviously lacking in scholastic vigor
(strength), provide us with a conceptual framework for understanding ourselves and others.
Scholars have come up with their own models of human development. Back up by solid
research, they take stand on issues on human development.
 THREE ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT

 Nature versus Nurture
 Continuity versus Discontinuity
 Stability versus Change
 Nature versus Nurture
The degree to which human behavior is determined by genetics/biology (nature) [Genetics

is the scientific study of genes and heredity—of how certain qualities or traits are passed
from parents to offspring as a result of changes in DNA sequence.] or learned through
interacting with the environment (nurture)
One example of when the argument of nature vs. nurture arises is when a person achieves
a high level of academic success. Did they do so because they are genetically predisposed
to elevated levels of intelligence, or is their success a result of an enriched environment?
 Nature
Nature refers largely to our genetics. It includes the genes we are born with and other
hereditary factors that can impact how our personality is formed and influence the way that
we develop from childhood through adulthood.
 Behavior is caused by innate [inborn] characteristics :The physiological

[Physiological characteristics derives from the structural information of the human body.
Fingerprint, Face, Ear, Iris, Retina, Palmprint, Veins, DNA etc falls under the physiolosical
traits. ] /biological characteristics [A few biologically determined characteristics include
genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color.] we are born with.
Some philosophers, such as Plato and Descartes, suggested that certain factors are inborn
or occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.
Advocates of this point of view believe that all of our characteristics and behaviors are the
result of evolution. They contend that genetic traits are handed down from parents to their
children and influence the individual differences that make each person unique.
 All possible behaviors are said to be present from conception. (nutrition, medical
care, drugs, and physical accidents) NOTE: NOTEBOOK
 Genes provide the blueprint for all behaviors; some present from birth, others pre-
programmed to emerge with age.
 Nurture
 Nurture encompasses the environmental factors that impact who we are. This includes
our early childhood experiences, the way we were raised, our social relationships, and
the surrounding culture.
 An individuals behavior is determined by the environment- the things people teach

them, the things they observe, and because of the different situations they are in. NOTE:
NOTEBOOK
 Also a determinist view- proposes all human behavior is the result of interactions
with the environment.
Nurture
Behaviorist theories are nurture theories:
- Behavior is shaped by interactions with the environment. (family, peers, schools,
community, media, and culture) NOTE: NOTEBOOK
Nature VS Nurture in Psychology
Eugenics, for example, was a movement heavily influenced by the nativist approach.
Nativist theorists argue that children are born with an innate ability to organize laws of
language, which enables children to easily learn a native language.
Psychologist Francis Galton coined the terms 'nature versus nurture' and 'eugenics' and
believed that intelligence resulted from genetics.
Galton also felt that intelligent individuals should be encouraged to marry and have many
children, while less intelligent individuals should be discouraged from reproducing.
In social psychology, on the other hand, researchers might conduct studies looking at how
external factors such as peer pressure and social media influence behaviors, stressing the
importance of nurture.
Behaviorism is another branch that focuses on the impact of the environment on behavior.
For example, a dirty corridor filled with extra hospital equipment will invite staff to
leave another item in the hall, whereas a clean corridor and adequate storage will
encourage staff to take the time to put the item away.
Nature VS Nurture in Child Development
Some psychological theories of child development place more emphasis on nature and

others focus more on nurture. An example of a nativist theory involving child development is
Chomsky's concept of a language acquisition device (LAD).
According to this theory, all children are born with an instinctive mental capacity that allows
them to both learn and produce language.
If you look at children, you would realize that even when they make wrong sentences, the
sentence is still in the right order. For example, no child will say “Biscuit mummy”, instead
the child will say “Mummy, biscuit”. The reason is thus, when a child starts to put two words
together, the child has already mastered the basic rules of syntax. And even when the child
makes an erroneous sentence, he applies them correctly.
An example of an empiricist child development theory is Albert Bandura's social learning
theory. This theory says that people learn by observing the behavior of others.
In his famous Bobo doll experiment, Bandura demonstrated that children could learn
aggressive behaviors simply by observing another person acting aggressively.
Nature VS Nurture in Personality Development
Biological theories suggest that personality is largely inherited.

Anxiety disorders or tendencies towards anxiety can be passed down in a family.
According to behavioral theories, our personality is a result of the interactions we have with
our environment.
Take John B. Watson’s famous quote on behavior and personality:
“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up
in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of
specialist I might select—doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man
and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of
his ancestors.”
Nature Nurture Interaction

 Behavior is often a result of the interaction between nature AND nurture .
 An individuals characteristics may elicit particular responses in other people e.g.
Temprament: how active, responsive or emotional an infant is influences in part determines
their caregivers responses. NOTE: NOTEBOOK
Gender: people tend to react differently to boys and girls due to expectations of masculine
and feminine characteristics. NOTE: NOTEBOOK
 Aggression: Displaying aggressive behavior create particular responses from other
people. NOTE: NOTEBOOK
 SUPPORTING APPROACHES & PERSPECTIVE NOTE: NOTEBOOK

Supporting Nature Supporting Nurture
-Physiological - Social (e.g. Helping Behavior)
- Individual Differences - Behavioral
- Developmental

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Issues on Human Development

 THREE ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT

 Nature versus Nurture

The degree to which human behavior is determined by genetics/biology (nature) [Genetics

 Behavior is caused by innate [inborn] characteristics :The physiological

 An individuals behavior is determined by the environment- the things people teach

Nature VS Nurture in Psychology

Nature VS Nurture in Child Development

Some psychological theories of child development place more emphasis on nature and

Biological theories suggest that personality is largely inherited.

Take John B. Watson’s famous quote on behavior and personality:

Nature Nurture Interaction

 SUPPORTING APPROACHES & PERSPECTIVE NOTE: NOTEBOOK

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