A guide to writing a nature VS. nurture debate essay

Table of contents

• The Nature vs. Nurture Debate
• Interaction of Nature and Nurture
• Topics of Nature vs. Nurture Debate
• Writing Nature vs. Nurture Debate Essay
• Examples of Nature vs. Nurture Debate

The Nature vs. Nurture Debate

What makes a man? Is it nature or nurture? Well, the different answers to the question have fueled a constant discussion for centuries. The problem, however, seems to be like a deep, dark abyss, an insatiable monster that hasn’t yet grown sufficient with the answers that scientists, philosophers, and scholars supply. Since it was perceived, the nature vs nurture debate has baffled the scholars and laypeople alike, leading to ideological conundrums rather than pinnacles of insight.

“Nature,” in the debate, refers to the impact on human character/ traits by genetic predispositions. “Nurture” refers to the effect of the experiences of a person and their environment on their character and behavior.

So, what primarily drives the growth in a person’s weaknesses, strengths, sexual preferences, behavioral tendencies, and personality?

Nature

The genetic coding determines most of the physical attributes such as height, eye color, skin complexion, hair color, and other traits in humans. It, however, remains unknowт to anyone whether abstract characteristics such as intelligence, sexual orientation, personality, likes, and dislikes have any links with the genetic coding too. This dispute has had significant social implications, especially concerning what is thought to determine a person’s ability to learn (intelligence).

Nurture

The nurture theory postulates that, although genetic influence over abstract traits may exist, the experiences and environmental factors are the linchpins for behavioral development. In Locke’s philosophy, he theorizes that a child is a tabula rasa (blank slate) and can be conditioned to induce a new behavior or alter an undesirable behavior that the child depicts. Although fraternal twins raised together have remarkable similarities in most respects, still the effects of the environment have led to several differences in how they behave.

Interaction of Nature and Nurture

Many scientists avoid the nature vs. nurture debate, emphasizing “nature x nurture.” This means that nature and nurture are inseparable. They exist together with no clear line of separation between the two. Some genes, for example, cannot be activated without certain environmental conditions. The development of vision is an excellent exemplar for this. 

One cannot develop regular sight without exposure to visual stimuli. Similarly, some genes may undermine some environmental inputs. For example, one may not be affected by smoking-related problems despite being life-long smokers. It may be partly due to their genes. Although some things are genetic related, the environment also affects the way one behaves. 

In the end, we remain with a confounding problem: Are we born with these character traits, or do we behave following our life experiences and the environment?

Currently, we know that both nature and nurture play crucial roles in human development, but we have not known yet figured out whether we are developed primarily because of nature or due to nurture. The nature vs. nurture debate ceaselessly continues, but still, it is a fact that we have traits that are predetermined by our genes. We, however, can choose the path we want to take as we travel through our lifetime.

Topics of Nature vs. Nurture Debate

One of the most controversial issues against the nature theory is that there may exist a “gay gene.” A gene that predetermines a person’s sexual propensity is implied to be in humans according to the theory. It could explain that it is why gays are born like that. If we are to stick to the nature theory, then criminal acts can be justified as a cause of the genetic coding of behavioral tendencies.

On the other hand, the “behavioral genes” can be somewhat proven to exist when we survey fraternal twins. When you bring up fraternal twins apart from each other, they show similarities in behavior and response as if they have been raised together.

Though the debate includes several points of view, there are some nature vs nurture debate topics that come up more often when the debate between nature and nurture rages on among scholars. Writing and choosing a topic for a nature and nurture essay can be tough but there always an option to use write my paper services to get your paper done.

Some of those topics include:

The nature vs. nurture debate is quite a long one. And with it being the issue that is most controversial and most disagreed on among psychologists, it has grown rather broad since its inception. Some of the nature vs nurture essay topics could be quite controversial and thought-provoking.

Writing Nature vs. Nurture Debate Essay

After selecting an engorging and engaging topic that you can handle, conduct extensive research on it. Come up with facts that support nature and those that support nurture in your nature vs nurture essay. Put together the points that seem to be similar in both. You can employ the use of a Venn diagram to present the data collected after extensive research accurately. 

Use the data collected to come up with the main focus of your essay. This will be your nature vs nurture essay thesis. This statement shows the main objective of your paper. It encapsulates whatever you want to convey to the reader. Choose the correct nature vs nurture essay outline while writing to ensure you tackle both sides adequately.

Begin with a catchy introduction. The first paragraph the interest of the reader on the whole essay. It should, therefore, be intriguing and make use of different or controversial points of view. Expound a bit on the topic to be discussed before getting to the ending. Use the last sentence or two to state your thesis statement.

Use the main body to write compelling paragraphs that show how nature and nurture, individually or collectively, affect the subject. The sections should all be of equal weights and contain a maximum of three evidence outlines to support your main points. Your nature vs nurture essay conclusion should restate the thesis statement and stand on the matter.

After completing the essay, read through to ensure your points flow coherently from one to the other. Edit it for any grammatical errors and come up with the final draft if you are satisfied with the edits and the message.

Examples of Nature vs. Nurture Debate

The internet is a vast repertoire that contains in-depth and extensive nature vs nurture essay examples. Seek information that is relevant to your topic to gain some insight and facts.