Origin of Intelligence
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The classic debated topic of nurture versus nature has been, and always will be an argumentative subject in the scientific world. Some psychologists
and scientists share the view that our behavioral aspects originate only from the environmental factors of our upbringing. While other opposing
specialists argue the outlook in science that agrees with the naturalist idea. This concept of naturalistic ideas supports the hereditary genetic
framework, inherited from our parents, is the sole determining factor in our behavioral characteristics. These two opposing viewpoints have produced
a multitude of ideas, theories, and arguments in the history of psychology.
John Broadus Watson, the father of American behaviorism, greatly reinforced the source of nurture by studying learned and adaptive behavior
patterns in our environmental surroundings (Rathus p.13). During this same time of revolutionary ideas in psychology, American psychologist, Arnold
Gesell supported the opposite views of Watson. Gesell theorized that “physical and motor growth and development is monitored and regulated by an
automatic natural process”(Rathus p.13). Each of these ideas has persisted strongly in the world of psychology from the nineteenth century on into
the twentieth, but now a new and united psychology world acknowledges both theories equally. It is imagined, today, that the explanation of our
behavioral characteristics originates from both our heredity, and the environment in which we were raised.
This report supports the theory that both aspects of nurture, with the addition of nature are involved in and explain our complete behaviors. Many
studies and experiments have been conducted in recent years of psychology to give this combined idea its appealing thesis. A great deal of research
and experimentation has been conducted in order to solve the puzzling results that derive from situational differences in being raised. The different
causes and effects of various situations, focus on the actual importance, and necessity of proper nurturing in childhood development (Turecki).
Studies on the early developing years in children show how effects of various environmental situations can cause mixed attitudes, personalities,
beliefs, sexual preference, and other behavioral patterns in children (Turecki & Adams).
For example, studies have been conducted on whether children that have been raised by single parents are going to develop differently than if both
natural parenting members were present through a childs infancy and adolescents. There are also cases being studied about step parenting, or entirely
different parenting with the process of adoption. With a shocking change of one or both parents in any stage of life, attitudes, and reactions are apt to
become altered with a new lifestyle. Also with step or adopted parents, entirely different siblings could possibly become added to the family structure,
altering the environments of all affected children. Psychologists have found that, although various situational differences can be traumatic in a childs
life, the influence of the upbringing environment doesnt overshadow the hereditary source of behavior (Rathus p.112).
Extreme concern has also risen about the effects of such traumatic childhood events and genetical characteristics on sexual orientation. The subject of
gay or lesbian parenting is also a major concern not only in psychology, but for many people around the world. Psychologists wonder if the affects of
this erratic situational difference will result in a inner-conflict between a childs hereditary instincts and environmental behavior. Although the factors of
genetics may have a small deciding component to sexual orientation, psychologist John Money, concluded that “sexual orientation is not under the
direct governance of chromosomes and genes” (Rathus p.367-368). Children from these conditions have usually been found to acquire a more
admissible attitude towards homosexuals through this altered environmental upbringing. However, children raised in these same conditions may, or
may not display homosexual tendencies determined by both genetic factors and environmental experiences.
In other exceptions, children often develop problems even though their environment seems to be entirely common. Psychologists have come to
question the quality of the relationship between parent and sibling, and also the raising and discipline methods. Take the example of a naughty or
extremely hyperactive young boy raising hell, and throwing tantrums out in public. When we witness children in this category, we often automatically
think, “Why doesnt his mother control him?” We assume that the cause of his behavior problems can be found in his environment, possibly poor
parenting techniques. This false assumption, however, may be an unfair judgment upon actual quality parenting. Recent researchers have shown that
children may be born with a variety of personality characteristics which can lead to behavioral problems, and are not related to poor parenting
techniques (Turecki).
Psychologist and twin researcher David Rowe stated that “Parents should be blamed less for kids who have problems and take less credit for kids
who turn out well” (Turecki). In the circumstance of rowdy children, psychologists often question both sides of genetic and environmental factoring.
Are mischievous children born that way, or raised that way? The answer may be both. With pioneering studies on temperamental children, Stella
Chess, M.D., and Alexander Thomas, M.D., concluded that children were initially born a certain way, and then because of the way they interacted