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Rylie Gumtow

Mr. Ventura

English Adv.

November 11, 2020

Mapping Perspectives

The debate of nature vs nurture has been ongoing for 50 years. The initial use of this

theory was first coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1869. The debate is twofold: is the human

behavior driven by innate biological factors or is it the product of one’s environment? The nature

vs nurture debate involves the extent to which certain aspects of behavior(s) are a product of

either inherited from parent, as stated before, or a learned/environmental influences. As we all

know certain physical characteristics are determined by “genes,” color of eyes, hair, and the like.

These facts have also led many to question behavioral traits as well. Characteristics and

differences that are not typically present at birth, but rather, emerge later in life, may that be

through maturity/puberty, where environmental issues are most prevalent, and therefore, learned.

“Freud (1905), stated that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives,

shaping our personality.” He further explained, the type of parenting when a child is an infant

was a crucial mark and or milestone in cognitive development. Prompting past and present

interest on this debate could potentially date back even before it was first coined in 1869. This

particular debate is of extreme interests to psychologists, psychiatrists, and perhaps simply just

round table discussion, as the ever evolving question is “What leads people to kill?”

One of the sides of the discussion is Nature. When discussing Nature, it has been

described as, are we born evil? Is it our genes and hereditary factors that we derive from and/ or
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our physical appearance or personality characteristics? (Childhood Experience and the

Expression of Genetic Potential: What Childhood Neglect Tells Us About Nature vs. Nurture,

Bruce D. Perry, Page 2) The article explains the significance of the background of how we derive

from Nature and our development through maturity which impacts our cognitive development

through adulthood. People who care most about this side of the issue agree most with that they

are solely “born with it” and is in their basic nature to commit heinous crimes or to kill. This side

is supported because certain people believe that it’s in their genetic make up to be who they are

and can’t be any other way. The main claim is that if the parent is one way the child will be the

same, referring back to their genetic makeup, and they can’t change who they are. This side of

the issue supports that those who are predetermined to who they are supposed to be and that

ethics and morals are passed down generation to generations, creating and fostering our mental

development.

As previously described and/or noted in the introduction was the twofold question of

Nature vs. Nurture and how the brain is impacted at a young age and perhaps has a significant

impact on our development. In this article (From nature versus nurture, via nature and nurture, to

gene 3 environment interaction in mental disorders, Anne-Kathrin Warner) the debate is genetic

factors contributing to environmental factors. This article further explains the notion (if you

will), environmental “hazards” playing a role in our choice making, remorse, impulse control,

attention to task, and differentiating between positive and negative choices. Therefore, reiterating

the notion of pre-existing conditions in conjunction with environmental hazards playing a key

role in not only development but early onset of particular diagnosis impacting one’s decision

making. People who care most about this side of this issue believe that it is the environmental

factors, childhood experiences, how we are raised and what we learn is how we are determined
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to be who we are. This side is supported by what in our childhood that we grow up around, for

example if a child grows up in an abusive household, that child will most likely grow up to be

the same way or have a growing hatred for the said abuser. People strongly support this side for

it being more “logical” and in this takes place in many cases for killers as well and is seen a lot

in the study of psychology.

In continuing our discussion on Nature vs Nurture, this particular article titled: “Psychopathy

Treatment and the Stigma of Yesterdays’ Research” by Rasmus Rosenburg Larsen. Argues the

historical component of psychiatric conditions through empirical data and research. It argues

both sides of nature vs Nurture but further offers suggestions based on the true diagnosis of a

psychiatric disorder. What is a psychiatric disorder, what constitutes a disorder, and how do

“we” as society help these individuals through reform? Additionally, how reform can further

help these individuals reintegrate into society. Many people believe that this side is one of the

most compelling because the word “psychopath” is used so much while discussing psychopathy

and in many cases people also believe that nature vs. nurture derive from psychopathic

tendencies. Many people who believe in this side believe that people with psychopathy can be

treatable and can have an alternate solution for their impulsiveness and their tendencies. They

also believe that people who suffer from mental illness or psychopathic tendencies cannot

control their impulsiveness and their behavior because it is just who they are. A lot of people

care about this side of the argument because of the term “psychopathy” falls under a wide range

of things, and very complex to fully understand.

When looking at all the sides as a whole, you can then start comparing and contrasting

them. When you talk about all the sides what they have in common starts with the neurological

aspect and focuses on the make-up of the brain. They all focus on the make-up and creation of
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the brain, which is the most important part in all three sides. When discussing Nature and

Nurture there are a lot of difference and similarities between the two. Nature refers to genetics

and the genes in the brain the “pre-writing,” is it something we are born with, something that we

have carried down through generations? Nurture then refers to the environment around us, what

we grow up around as a child, what we are exposed to and the life experiences. Both Nature and

Nurture can be similar because both shape us for who are today and how we grow to build our

character and personality traits. They are different in many ways as Nature is predisposed, you

are supposed to be one way and can’t change that. Nurture is different from Nature because it

discusses that you shape yourself from the life experiences and what you grow up around.

Finally, then discussing the third component, psychopathy. In many given situations psychopathy

derives from the nature vs. nurture debate and they correlate together because of the neurological

side of the debate, and in other situations psychopathy is in itself its own topic, and can be

described as a mental disorder starting in the brain, making a person lack emotional responses,

lack of empathy, and “bad” behavior. All the sides have some similarities but in the end they are

all different in their own ways.

With all the sides presented, I agree with the Nurture side. I believe the Nurture side is

more logical, for example, the environment a child grows up in, what the brain picks up on, what

a child experiences in their life. An example of this, is the notorious serial, killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

From a young age, Dahmer was always noted as a lonely kid who kept to himself, he never had a

lot of friends at school and never got attention at home, his mother abandoned him at a young

age where he found refuge by picking up hitch hikers. Dahmer started to show signs of a killer

at a young age, he had a fascination with bones and dissecting roadkill that he found.

Additionally, at an early age, Dahmer began experimenting with alcohol to “numb” the pain of
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his impulse and loneliness. Dahmer would soon start his killing and experimenting his kills, he

did it more and more as time went on, figuring out new ways to kill and what to do with the

bodies. Dahmer not getting attention and being alone as a child resulted in him to have a growing

fascination with death and violence (he wanted a sense of belonging and people to stay with him-

as his mother abandoned him at a very early age-as stated previously), which would lead him to

be one of the most notorious serial killers to this day.

In summary, as one can clearly see, the debate of Nature vs. Nurture is still ongoing. There is

truly no one clear cut answer or definition as to what leads people to kill. Psychologists and the

like, have gone back and forth on this issue, to better assist with the “world” of Psychology and

furthermore to help individuals themselves understand why they kill, the impulse to do so, and

the environmental factors. I believe the issue of Nurture is most supportive with empirical data

and statistical information. The Nurture debate looks at the holistic person and maps out the

question as to “why people kill?” The Nature side of the debate, while showing genetic and

hereditary analysis, simply pacifies why people kill, “because it’s in their genes.” I am hoping

with continued discussion, studies, and analogies, the world of psychology will be able to

accurately define this ever evolving question as to “why people/what leads people to kill?”

 Intro provides background info, clearly states issue, and provides reader with sides

 Be careful of egregious errors – point of view switch, spelling, and run on sentences

 Psychopathy side is confusing – clearly show this sides claim and stance on the issue

 Maintained neutrality for all sides

 Further each sides claims with more evidence to appeal to the readers’ interest
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 Some word choice is confusing

 Organization is good, just work on transitions and topic sentences

 all elements of the paper are there, but some key aspects are missing

 make sure to answer the questions asked on the prompt for each side

Overall, the paper interested me. Work on the missing aspects to ensure pathos and ethos.

Thank you for this helpful feedback and I will be sure to look into those problems and see

what changes I can make to better this essay; your feedback was very useful. I will begin to

work on my word choice as I believe that is one of my number one problems

Works Cited

Perry, Bruce. “Childhood Experience and the Expression of Genetic Potential: What Childhood

Neglect Tells Us About Nature and Nurture.” Brain and Mind, 2002, Dordrecht Vol. 3, Iss.

1, (Apr 2002): 79.

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Rasmus Rosenberg, Larsen. “Psychopathy Treatment and the Stigma of Yesterday's Research.”

Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 2019, Baltimore Vol. 29, Iss. 3, (Sep 2019): 243-272.

DOI:10.1353/ken.2019.0024.

Wermter, Anne-Kathrin. “From Nature versus Nurture, via Nature and Nurture, to Gene ×

Environment Interaction in Mental Disorders.” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry;

2010, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; New York Vol. 19, Iss. 3, (Mar 2010):

199-210. DOI:10.1007/s00787-009-0082-z.