Heredity vs. Environment in Human Development Essay example

Heredity vs. Environment in Human Development Nature- inborn traits and characteristics inherited from parents Nurture- environmental influences, both before and after birth ACTIVE (organism) VS PASSIVE (mechanistic) Organismic- People are active growing organisms that set their own development in motion ACT not react to environmental influences *cannot predict behavior by simple responses to environmental stimulus Emphasize qualitative change, see development occurring in STAGES each s stage builds on previous stage. Freud, Erikson, Piaget Mechanistic- People are like machines that REACT to environmental influence, if we learn enough about human Machine we can predict what they will do†¦show more content†¦Each period has its own characteristics and value Development Depends on history and context- Each person develops within a specific set of circumstances or conditions defined by time and place. Human beings influence, and are influenced by historical and social context. Responding to physical and social environments but also interact with and change them Development is Multidimensional multidirectional- Development throughout life involves a balance of growth and decline. As people gain in one area they may lose in another. People seek to maximize gains to minimize losses by learning to manage or compensate for them Development is Pliable/Plastic modifiability of performance)- Abilities, such as memory, strength and endurance can be improved with training and practice. Research Methods Observational Studies- observe behaviors in naturalistic or laboratory setting +can observe wide range of human behavior, behaviors can be clearly defined and studied, see development naturally, Inexpensive - cannot inferShow MoreRelatedChild Development: Heredity and Environment1240 Words   |  5 Pagesor even environment versus heredity leads to the question of: does the direct environment or the nature surrounding an adolescent directly influence acts of delinquency, later progressing further into more radical crimes such as murder or psychotic manifestation, or is it directly linked to the hereditary traits and genes passed down from that individual adolescent’s biological parents? To answer this question one must first understand the difference between nature, nurture, environment, and heredityRead MoreLife Span Perspective Essay1187 Words   |  5 PagesAmundson Psy/375 April 11, 2011 Professor Deborah Wilkerson, M.A., ABD The study of human development is a science. 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Other well-known thinkers such as John Locke believed in what is known as  tabula rasa, which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slateRead MorePYC2602 NOTES2972 Words   |  12 PagesPYC2602 - Summary of A childs world - Papalia et al Cpts 1,2,3 THE STUDY OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT: BASIC CONCEPTS THE STUDY OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT: THEN AND NOW †¢ Child Development: Scientific study of processes of change stability in human children. †¢ Quantative change Change in number/amount eg height, size of vocabulary, frequency of communication tends to be continuous †¢ Qualitative change Change in kind, structure organization Discontinuous Marked by the emergence of new phenomena that cannotRead MoreGandhi: Explanations of Nature and Nurture Essay786 Words   |  4 Pages Nature vs. Nurture The relative contributions of nature and nurture are an apparent part of human development which makes us ask the question, are heredity and environment opposing forces?(Sternberg 100) The question of nature vs. nurture can be examined and can be attempted to be comprehended in many ways. Our stand on which theory is the correct one is obviously a matter of opinion and makes us wonder if only one of them is truly correct. Nurture seems to be the explanation that holds the most