Assignment:
In considering how personality develops, the impact of the child’s environment, as well as the child’s innate characteristics, must be taken into consideration. Assess the nature versus nurture controversy. Assess your views on how each affects a child’s personality and moral development. Provide supporting evidence or reasoning. Which theoretical perspective on personality and moral development most closely represents your view?
Short response required for each question, in text APA citations required for each response (no assigned resource provided)
Did the response apply the following Socratic Approach, using Steps 1 through 4?
Question 1 of 4
Step 1: Identify the elements of the problem, issue, or question. Did the response adequately include this step? Yes or No? If no, what was missing?
Question 2 of 4
Step 2: Analyze/ define/ frame the problem, issue, or question. Did the response adequately include this step? Yes or No? If no, what was missing?
Question 3 of 4
Step 3: Consider solutions, responses, or answers. Did the response adequately include this step? Yes or No? If no, what was missing?
Question 4 of 4
Step 4: Choose a solution, response, or answer. Did the response adequately include this step? Yes or No? If no, what was missing?
Sample Response:
In the context of the nature versus nurture controversy, nature means one’s genetic inheritance of traits such as intelligence, physical characteristics, and personality tendencies (Vander Zanden, Crandell, & Crandell, 2009). Nurture means the influence of environment, including parenting, schooling, physical environment, culture, and other factors (Vander Zanden et al., 2009). In the past, social scientists and others argued which factor—nature or nurture —was responsible in a given situation, but it is more common today to ask either how much is due to nature versus nurture, or how they interact (Vander Zanden et al., 2009). Vander Zanden et al. (2009) therefore characterize the current nature versus nurture controversy as asking either how or how much, rather than which.
While there are many theories that address the nature-nurture controversy, behaviorism most closely represents my view. Most of the behaviors needed to succeed in life are within the capabilities of most people, but some people’s environments make success unlikely for them. If a person is raised in an environment that does not support educational activities, that person is unlikely to become a physicist, even if he or she was born with the intelligence traits of an Einstein. Similarly, those raised in a violent environment are more likely to be violent, such as those who were abused as children may subsequently abuse their own children.
Reference: Vander Zanden, J. W., Crandell, T. L., & Crandell, C. H. (2009). Human development (9th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Expert Solution Preview
No, the response did not adequately include Step 1: Identify the elements of the problem, issue, or question. The response only provided a general overview of the nature versus nurture controversy and did not specifically address the elements of the problem or issue.
No, the response did not adequately include Step 2: Analyze/ define/ frame the problem, issue, or question. The response did not analyze or define the problem or issue, but simply provided a general overview of the nature versus nurture controversy.
Yes, the response adequately included Step 3: Consider solutions, responses, or answers. The response provided the writer’s personal views on how nature and nurture affect a child’s personality and moral development, supported by examples and reasoning.
Yes, the response adequately included Step 4: Choose a solution, response, or answer. The response stated that behaviorism most closely represents the writer’s view on personality and moral development, and provided reasoning to support this choice.
Overall, the response did not fully apply the Socratic Approach as it missed Steps 1 and 2.
