Nature Vs Nurture - a Not Quite Twin Study

Nature vs Nurture

A Not Quite Twin Study

Tamara Richardson

Seminole State College of Florida

Abstract

This paper is going to discuss the Nature vs Nurture debate. There will be history of the debate, where it is presently and where it may go in the future. We will look at the beginning of the debate, the battle that started with Descartes and was pushed further by BF Skinner, Bandura and Piaget. We will further look at Bandura and Piaget and look at Social learning theory verses biology. Interviews with a sibling set of sisters, one adopted and one biological separated by 4 months in age will show us how being raised in the same environment will over shadow biological beginnings. The Nature vs Nurture debate will be discussed in detail comparing and contrasting the sisters likes and dislikes, social skills, talents and education. We will see where the debate stands today. This has been a century's long debate and we will touch on current research and what studies are showing.

Nature Vs Nuture

A Not Quite Twin Study

There has been a battle raging with experts poised on either side in the Nature vs Nurture debate. It is a battle that has been debated for many years dating back to Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Descartes was a French philosopher who believed that a person's nature, where they came from, would influence the behavior they exhibited, the way they learned and their thought process. (Ipfw.edu, 2009) Descartes also believed that when we entered the world, we came with preconceived ideas about the world and that infants were born with knowledge of some aspects of life. (ipfw.edu, 2009) It would seem that Descartes believe that Nature played a stronger role in a person's life. In contrast to Descartes, both B.F. Skinner and Albert Bandura believed that it was not genetics, but the environment in which a child is raised plays a far greater part in a person's behavior. (Farmer-Dougan) Social Learning theory indicates that behavior is learned. (McCleod, 2007)

The Nativists believe that it is genetics and heredity that will shape a person's characteristics. That even though a baby may not exhibit behaviors- that as a person grows up the behavior will be seen. On the opposite side of the debate is the first environmentalists or empiricists and the belief that when a person is born the brain is blank- and the behaviors we exhibit are learned. (McLeod, 2007)

One way to judge which has a greater effect on behavior, social, and intellectual endeavors is to study twins or siblings. I spoke to two young women who are sisters. One biologically related to the parents and one adopted as an infant by the parents. The young ladies are four months apart in age. They were in different grades throughout school. They took similar classes. Their views on life are different, but there are many similarities. These two girls were born to very different parents, but their behavior and grades show how much our environment shape who we are and who we become.

Maggie, an eighteen year old girl is the youngest. She was adopted as an infant. She states that she is quiet and finds it hard to meet new people. She has only a few close friends and considers her best friend to be her sister. Maggie states she can trust her to listen and to know what is best for me. Maggie is a straight "A" student, she takes honor and advance placement classes. In her senior year she has already earned an impressive number of college credits. She states if she can "get it done and over with it is one less thing to worry about later". She is the more serious of the two. She is talented artistically and loves to draw and paint. She will often be found with a pencil and sketch pad. She excels in her math and science courses and credits her father for that interest. She is often told she acts just like her father and brother in respect to her stubborn nature. She takes things very personally and finds transgressions hard to forgive. Extracurricular activities include things like chess club, youth group, peer tutoring, and cheerleading. Maggie prefers individual sports/activities but doesn't mind participating in group/team sports.

Lucy is now nineteen years old. She is a freshman in college. She is the biological daughter of their parents. Lucy is very outgoing and describes herself as extroverted. She as a lot of friends and has never met a stranger. She is always the center of attention. She also states that her sister is her best friend. Lucy states "she is the one person I can tell anything to and she won't hate me or think I'm weird" Lucy made good grades in high school. She was consistently on the "A/B" honor roll, took some honor classes and did not want to take any college level classes while in high school. She stated "high school is only for a little while; I wanted to enjoy my friends and my life". Lucy excels in the performing arts; she is a gifted singer and musician. She likes to perform. She finds math and science classes interesting but states "they are just harder for me than they are her (Maggie). She is better in English, literature and history. Extracurricular activities included things such as cheer leading, drama club, chorus, church choir and group activities.

I also spoke with their parents. They are in their mid to late fifties. They have four children in total. Maggie and Lucy are the only two close in age. They are both well-educated. "Stan" is in computer programming and "Erin" is an RN with her BSN. They state that they are very pleased with how the girls have grown up. That the two girls are very close, often mistaken for twins when they were younger. They see differences in their personality, tastes in food, and style, but many similarities in behavior. They state that they both are good students, Maggie shines. They both are well