The nature versus nurture debate is based on whether it is the environment or a child’s inherent characteristics that shape their personality and behavior (Croteau and Hoynes 149). Before proceeding, it is necessary to note that all children are born with the same combination of 46 chromosomes which creates the genetic basis for their subsequent growth and development. However, not all individuals are born equal wherein some have genetic traits (ex: height) that make them predisposed to having a distinct advantage over other people (ex: playing basketball).
It is this concept of predisposition that is at the heart of the nature versus nurture debate since it implies that not only do people have innate biological characteristics or advantages that make them unique, it is also possible that they could have behavioral and psychological predispositions as well. This perspective is called biological determinism which ascribes to the ideology that all behaviors and abilities are innate and, as such, comes about as a direct result of genetic potential.
However, counterarguments to this claim state that people are born as a “tabula rasa” or blank slate, a concept developed by John Locke. This perspective on human development posits that all people are born as blank slates and, as such, the development of their minds will come about through their own unique sensory experiences (i.e. interacting with people and their environment). This results in varying levels of emotional and behavioral development depending on the type sensory exposure that they encounter within a particular environment (Croteau and Hoynes 149).
This concept adheres to the belief that behaviors are learned through exposure to the environment where a person grows up. For example, even if two individuals are remarkably similar to one another, including their physical characteristics and social backgrounds, if one grows up on the west coast and the other on the east coast, it is very likely that both of them will display markedly different social mannerisms, likes, dislikes, and colloquialisms.
In fact, given the sheer variety of characteristics, behavior and psychological profiles of people in the same country yet living in different regions that are only a few hundred miles away from each other, shows the impact that the environment can have on a person’s emotional and psychological development. It is based on this that this paper asserts that nurture is far more applicable than nature when it comes to examining the behavioral, emotional and psychological growth of an individual.
Justifying the Assertion
To better understand the “nurture” aspect of human development, this paper will now examine learning theory and how it can be used as a way of understanding human intellectual growth and development. Learning theory states that language develops through learning and, as noted by various researchers examining language development among children, infants are only able to learn the different nuances inherent in words through reinforcement and imitation. As such, researchers state that continuous exposure to a language rich learning environment is necessary to develop the skills and knowledge needed to utilize a language in the first place.
If the learning environment that an infant is exposed to does not exist, then their capacity to learn a language suffers. This is due to the necessity of being able to hear and discern conversations so that they can apply the vocabulary they heard into their own statements. What this example shows is that environmental factors have a considerable amount of influence on intellectual growth, and the same can be said about behavioral growth as well. Aside from language, children are also exposed to wide range of external influences that impact how they view the world and methods that they choose to interact with it.
For example, one of the best quotes that apply to childhood development is the statement “people are not born racist”. This is true since racism is a learned behavior that comes about through social influences and is not an inherent aspect of human instinct. If a person is not racist when they are born, they can become racist based on the environment they are exposed to. What this shows is that it is nurture and not nature that has a more profound impact on the emotional and psychological development of children.
This is not to say though that nature does not play a role in a person’s development. For example, nativist theory states that all individuals have an innate “genetic programming” so to speak when it comes to their native language. This means that, depending on the region in question, people in that area would have a far easier time learning the local language compared to someone from a different ethnicity that was born in another country and brought into that region. Based on this, it can be stated that human growth and development is a mix of both nature and nurture; however, this paper asserts that nurture plays a much greater role in the process and, as such, is more important as a method of analysis.
Subculture
Presently, I belong to the gamer subculture which is considered as one of the most ubiquitous subcultures in the world. This is based on its current population that spans nearly every single nationality, race, ethnicity, and gender (Litvinova and Tarasov 93). Being a gamer is not just a hobby or something that someone does to be entertained; rather, it incorporates a lot of aspects that are inherent in subcultures around the world. For example, gamers have developed their own unique way of talking as seen in the development of new words and phrases (ex: gank, noob, tank the damage).
Gamers also tend to incorporate game lore based abbreviations in everyday conversations (ex: zerg rush to describe people rushing to a sale) and have developed distinct customs when it comes to the etiquette you should have when it comes to collaborative online gaming (Litvinova and Tarasov 93). Lastly, the gamer subculture has even created a form of hierarchy that changes based on an individual’s skill with a particular game. All of these aspects are inherent aspects of a subculture and add a considerable amount of legitimacy to the claim that being a gamer means belonging to a particular subculture within society.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the gamer subculture is the fact that a large percentage of its social interaction is through the internet. This is done through online forums, message board posting, and, in some cases, the chat menu within games. The reason behind this is due to the desire of gamers to share their opinions and strategies with each other as well as collaborate attacks and strategies while playing an online game like DOTA 2 or World of Warcraft. In fact, online communication through the use of a virtual identity is considered as the primary mode of social interaction for gamers.
It can be stated though that the gamer subculture is far different from the typical social structure within America. Compared to most people in the United States that thrive in direct social interaction, most gamers would prefer real world social isolation. On average, a gamer can spend hours improving their skills on their favorite game without feeling the desire to talk to people or even interact with anyone at all. This differs significantly from the socially inclined nature of most people in America who prefer being in real life groups and interact with one another instead of being alone.
While most individuals in society consider gaming as “just a hobby,” for some gamers their lives revolve almost entirely around playing games. In some cases, a player will neglect to sleep, eat or even bathe just so that they can continue playing their favorite game. It is this obsession with gaming that can be considered as an accurate characterization of some individuals within the gamer subculture. The problem though with being a gamer is that, in some cases, people have devastated their lives for the sake of the games they play. There are numerous stories both in the news and online which show that some gamers have stopped caring about their wives, do not go to work, skip their classes, and do not have long-term plans regarding their future. However, this darker aspect of the gamer subculture is, thankfully, applicable to only a few individuals. Most gamers have productive lives and rarely develop the issues that were just mentioned.
Works Cited
Croteau, David, and William Hoynes. Experience Sociology: 2nd Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education Create, 2015. Print.
Litvinova, Ana, and Kirov Tarasov. “Analysis Of Factors Of Intercultural Communication In College Students Oriented On The Subculture Of Gamers And The Dominant Culture. (Analysis Of Factors Of Intercultural Communication In College Students Oriented On The Subculture Of Gamers And The Dominant Culture.).” Psychological Science & Education 6 (2013): 93. Print