There is an ongoing debate of “nature vs. nurture” in the psychological field. How much of a person’s childhood experiences influence who that person becomes as an adult? Can a child with a happy “normal” childhood morph into a nefarious monster? Or could that child become a successful banker on Wall Street with a family of his or her own? However much the nature fact may come into play, it does not discount how strong a child’s experiences can play on his or her behaviors and interactions as an adult. In fact, it can be said that a child’s experiences can play just as big of a part if not more that his given nature.
I had a very hard time making friends as a child because of my shyness. I sat, and watched people. I observed how they talked, interacted, and behaved. There were many things I discovered that I did not care for about people, such as how mothers seemed to constantly yell at their children in the grocery store. It didn’t seem right that they did this to children who were only being children and just wanted to get something. My parents never did this to me. If I wanted something at the store I was either allowed to get it, or it was calmly and gently explained to me why I could not have it. Never a loud voice. It just wasn’t needed. To this day, I try to calmly explain things to children. I don’t yell or cause scenes. There is no need for it.
Since my eyes do not function well, some of my senses picked up where my eyes left off. My taste became more defined, so spicy foods were pretty much off limits. I had no tolerance for peppers or hot spices. It made ordering food at a restaurant very difficult, because I had to be picky of what was in my meals. As an adult, I still have to watch what I order, and make adjustments accordingly.
Some may say that this is “in my blood”, that it is nature dictating my views. The nature theory, that who we are is encoded into our genetics, does have a big following by the scientific field. Nature does have a huge following, but that doesn’t mean that the nurture theory, that people’s environment determine who they are, is not just as important. A University of California study indicated that women were more likely than men to be affected by peer pressure when deciding to smoke their first cigarette (Bryner, 2006). So, perhaps it is a good mix of both.
For example, I had chicken pox as a child, which predisposed me to shingles as an adult. My body had the shingles virus from the moment I had the chicken pox, even though I do not remember having the chicken pox at all. Having the shingles, in my case, was caused by stress. My genetics opened the door to the shingles virus. After I had it, my experience with the disease made me more aware of the pain and suffering of those around me. It also made me aware of my own stress limits, so that I learned to pay attention to myself and stop before my stress levels became too high.
My parents were also very instrumental in my childhood. My mother was a traditional homemaker, and my father was out the door every weekday morning and home at six every night. He was the traditional breadwinner. My parents were very supportive to my growth, instilling in me a love of reading, art, theater, and music. We were not rich, but they found the money to pay for lessons when I wanted to learn something. I was never denied anything that could help me learn and grow positively. When I was in the hospital as a child, I was never alone. As an adult, I have a deep appreciation for the arts and creativity. I love to read, and attend a theater play whenever I can. I do not have the means to do this as much as I would like to, so it only makes my appreciation for these things even greater when I can attend them. Because I was exposed to so many things as a child, I have learned to how calmly and patiently express myself as an adult.
In examining the nurture theory of the debate, it could be argued that my parents were a greater influence on my life than my genetics. A parent’s attentiveness and caring nature to their child will define whether or not the child will be able to express themselves positively or negatively as adults. A loving, attentive, and caring parent; coupled with a safe and healthy environment will foster the development of a well-adjusted adult. The opposite can be said for children who are raised with little to no nurturing in a negative and unhealthy environment (Lipton, 2001).
I believe that one is affected by nature and nurture. I have very sensitive hearing. Whether that is due to the handicaps I have, or my genetics, I do not know. Things that would not bother some people, like the creaking of a bathroom stall door, have always bothered my ears, and too much noise gave me frequent migraines. I am, as an adult, someone who tries not to make a lot of noise and confusion. I also don’t care for noisy places, like crowded restaurants, or some very loud concerts. I know that this causes my headaches and I try to take care of them. Nature taught me how to recognize the issue, and my parents taught me how to recognize it and prevent it.
More than likely, both camps are right and adult development runs right down the middle of both theories. My genetics played a part in how I developed as an adult. My environment and loving parents had just as much effect on my development. As far as I am concerned, the science is not as important as the way I have turned out. I am who I am and I can say that I am truly happy with who I have become.
Works Cited
Lipton, Bruce H. PhD. “Nature, Nurture and Human Development”. Journal of Prenatal and
Perinatal Psychology and Health Winter (20011): 167-180. Print.
Bryner, Jeanna. “Nature vs. Nurture: Mysteries of Individuality Unraveled”. Live Science. Live
Science Mag., 19 July 2006. Web. 2 September 2010.
