TUTORIAL ACTIVITIES

The issue of nature and nurture in human development

1. Define the following :

ü Nature- are the genetic influences, that are programmed by our DNA, and are all
related to our parents.
ü Nurture- these are environmental influences that vary from parents and families to
education, to living in urban or rural areas, and peers.
2. Classify your characteristic traits that belong to nature. Why?

Skin color, hair color, eye color are the natural traits as these passed down
genetically/ are programmed by the DNA and are related to our parents.

3. Discuss how nature and nurture play their role/s in “intelligence’’

Intelligence is part of both nature and nurture. As this could have been passed
through genes so passed down from the parents to the child which becomes the
nature part of it whereas it can be due to the way the child was raised, the influence
of the environment the child was in, and the influence of the peers around hence this
becomes the nurture part, so we can see that both nature and nurture has a role/part
in intelligence.

4. Discuss how nature and nurture play their role/s in homosexuality

This phenomenon remains a mystery but through research and studies conducted
between homosexuals and heterosexuals, it was concluded that sexuality is not
based on environmental factors, and for the questions asked both groups had similar
answers. Through further research and studies, it was found that homosexuality is
largely biologically determined, and through thorough research, it was stated that if
one identical twin is gay, then 52 percent of the time the other was also. As due to
these factors many people still have different conclusion when comes to
homosexuality, if it is influenced through nature or nurture.

5. Tula is 35 years single without any children and is still living with her elderly
parents. She visits the health centre today with complaints of headache, some degree
of dizziness and finds life a bit bored. She also stated that she has some degree of
loneliness.

Questions
1. Discuss reasons Tula finds life a bit boring and lonesome as well.

Tula finds life a bit boring and lonesome as this is due to the fact that Tula is still
single at the age of 35, she does not have any children, and that she lives with her
elderly parents which clearly shows that no one of her age group is there to talk with
her, as the is a generation gap between Tula and her parents thus they do not have
anything common to talk about.

2. Relate some psychosocial factors you feel contribute to Tula's current state.

Factors that can contribute to Tula’s current state are her marital status and no one
of her age group is around to talk and understand her feelings.

6.  Sometimes back people feel that when you are physically well and not in pain you
are healthy. It is quite different today. Health now has several definitions. Elaborate
further the given definitions of health according to the different organizations

1. WHO definition of health

That health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

2. Medical Definition of health

That health is a process of expanding consciousness that synthesizes disease

and non-disease and is recognized by patterns of person-environment
interaction.

3. Mental Health definition of health

That health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her

abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and
can make a contribution to his or her community.