Behavior From The Environment example essay topic

Nature vs. Nurture Shaping Human Behavior The debate between those who believe human beings are born with certain innate qualities and those who believe we are the product of our environment (Nature vs. Nurture) has raged for centuries. "For the better part of the 20th century, most literature supported the nurture side of the debate". Advocates of the 'nurture' theory emphasize the important role played by acquired and learned behavior from the environment. In support of this theory are several experiments such as Marler's work on the development of bird song, which showed that within the same species of white crowned sparrows, there are regional variations in bird song (Halliday & Slater, 1983). This paper will look at how the knowledge of the field of genetics has caused the pendulum to swing back in the opposite direction (e.g. Matt Ridley, 2003). In "Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human" Ridley presents overwhelming new evidence to support the influences of both heredity and environment on the personality, potential, and achievements of every unique person.

Backed by wide-ranging research from respected geneticists and empiricists alike, Ridley liberates genes from their role as puppet masters to recast them as both cause and consequence References Ridley, Matt (2003). Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human HarperCollins Publishers However, these aren't great enough reasons to eschew the responsibility that every person has for his or her actions. The fact is, no one can force you to do anything. Yes, you can be forced to do things in physical sense, but no one can force your mind. In desperate, insane situations, people can break down trying to fight against overwhelming mental opposition, but, in most cases, everyone has potentially a clean chance to break away from their problems.

The person that doesn't take that chance, the person that continues to hurt himself or herself and others, or to let themselves be hurt, is a person who has willfully engaged in destructive behavior. It's sad to see people get mired down in a terrible situation, and it can be terribly hard to get out of it. But escape it they must. Ultimately, each of us has to make a decision. Am I going to wallow in self-pity, blame everyone and everything but myself, and allow my past to dictate my future, or am I going to face my problems, accept the fact that I can and must change my attitudes and actions, and embrace the idea of a better life for myself and the people around me? People make mistakes, and people can be forgiven, but only when they are truly willing to be forgiven.

As long as someone thinks their problems are simply because of society or genetics, rather than a result of their inability to overcome their life's experiences, then they " ll continue to be a victim and will never be able to stop their addictions, cure their mental illnesses, or leave devastating relationships.