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The nature versus nurture controversy psychology
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John Locke one of the greatest philosophers once said, “A child is a blank slate that is formed only through experience”. (Locke) This is called Tabular Rasa. Tabular Rasa is the idea that we are born without any premonitions of the world and that our behavior is influenced by those first memories and influences. What causes someone to be good or evil? Was the monster created as evil or did he become evil after his gain of knowledge and cultural experiences? Answering this question you should ponder one of the oldest arguments in psychology, Nature versus Nature.
Nature versus nurture is a psychology term related to whether heredity or the environment most impacts human psychological development this includes behavior, habits, intelligence, personality, aggressive tendencies, and many other traits. The question is, are human feelings innate or learned? Locke claimed that the, ‘human mind at birth is a complete, but receptive, blank slate
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upon which experience imprints knowledge.’ I believe both nature and nurture plays a big role in one’s life. Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” So was Frankenstein liable by lack of ‘Nurture’ or Life experiences linking to ‘Nature’? By supporting Nurture, I think that parental support can help overcome the affects of society so that one can live a normal life. Parents are the most important educators. Nature refers to the environment we grow up in, our surroundings. Nurture has a greater effect than nature study’s say. If the creature was shown compassion and if he was taught compassion maybe he wouldn’t of lashed out and started harming others. Nurture plays a big role because he never understood humanity and he was left alone to find out. His isolation leads him to commit violent acts. In the novel you realize the monster was not inherited his evil but became evil due to multiple experiences with humans.
The monster knew he was missing something and that was family/love. Nature plays a big role in an individual’s life, but not being expected by society or in the case mankind his good nature was overlooked. The lack of nurture and the cruelty of human beings have made him the way he is. The creature is viewed as the bad guy, however he is not. He had no one and was treated unfairly. He is not raised by his Victor his creator but deserted. Why should he want be compassionate to mankind, when he is treated so unkindly? The lack of nurture is what shaped the monster at the end of the novel.
In Conclusion, Nurture trumps nature! What you have been born with does play a role in your life, but what you chose to do does not. The monster soon realized that his nurture made him recognize his nature. We can’t control circumstances but we can control how we respond to them. Our mind and experiences have the final
outcome.
The nature versus nurture theory is a way to distinguish whether certain traits or characteristics of individuals are impacted more by biological means or environmental means. What the “nature” part signifies in the the theory is that we are more impacted by heredity and biological effects of our personality and what defines us as a person. What “nurture” signifies is that environmental factors have a more powerful impact on our lives and personality. As we mostly know, most things aren’t black and white, and so it’s hard ro determine which type of factors is more effective. Most people believe that it’s a blend of both nature and nurture that makes us who we are.
The creature was also misguided, his treatment from others led to him becoming a monster but he realized this and did the right thing in the end, showing that he was just misunderstood.
The Creature, Victor Frankenstein’s creation, is shaped into a monster through its experiences, instead of the nature of itself, which is more expected. Victor Frankenstein, on the other hand, is shaped into a monster because of his mind’s power-hungry nature. Victor treats his creature poorly and he himself becomes wicked. While the Creature also becomes wicked in the end, its actions are more justified because multiple people treated it poorly, causing the Creature to lash out. Even though Victor Frankenstein and the Creature both turn into wicked monsters, to some extent, only one of
When he first awakens with a smile towards his creator, the creature is abandoned and learns by himself about how the world works. Despite his rough start in his new life, the creature experiences nature with no harsh emotions. “[The creature]... could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain... Soon a gentle light and gave [the creature] a sensation of pleasure. [He] started and beheld a radiant form rise from among the trees. [He] gazed with a kind wonder” (Shelley 100). When the creature was a sobbing mess, he could have taken the chance to only let in anger and hate for the life he has been thrown into. But the creatures is distracted and in awe of the sunrise, a symbol of new hope and new start. Because of his hideous appearance, the creature receives negative reactions. “[The creature] entered... the children shrieked and... the women fainted. The whole village was roused: some fled, some attacked [him], until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons [the creature] escaped... [the creature]... miserable from the inclemency of the season, and still more from the barbarity of man” (Shelley 103). If the creature was a true monster, he would have fought back against the villagers. Because a true evil being would attack without hesitation. Because of his deformity, people automatical...
The question “What makes us who we are?” has perplexed many scholars, scientists, and theorists over the years. This is a question that we still may have not found an answer to. There are theories that people are born “good”, “evil”, and as “blank slates”, but it is hard to prove any of these theories consistently. There have been countless cases of people who have grown up in “good” homes with loving parents, yet their destiny was to inflict destruction on others. On the other hand, there have been just as many cases of people who grew up on the streets without the guidance of a parental figure, but they chose to make a bad situation into a good one by growing up to do something worthwhile for mankind. For this reason, it is nearly impossible to determine what makes a human being choose the way he/she behaves. Mary Shelley (1797-1851) published a novel in 1818 to voice her opinions about determining personality and the consequences and repercussions of alienation. Shelley uses the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau to make her point. Rousseau proposed the idea that man is essentially "good" in the beginning of life, but civilization and education can corrupt and warp a human mind and soul. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (hereafter referred to as Frankenstein), Victor Frankenstein’s creature with human characteristics shows us that people are born with loving, caring, and moral feelings, but the creature demonstrates how the influence of society can change one’s outlook of others and life itself by his reactions to adversity at “birth”, and his actions after being alienated and rejected by humans several times.
Nature, which is also known as hereditary, is the genetic makeup (DNA) that an individual carries from birth until death. Hereditary characteristics are different in each individual, group and humans in comparison to other species. Nurture on the other hand refers to environmental factors and similar to nature, an individual is also exposed from birth until death. These factors involve elements such as physical environments (prenatal nutrition) and social environments (media and peer pressure). (Social Issues Referencing, 2007)
Perhaps the creature could have turned out to be a normal decent human being if he had not been abandoned by his creator directly after his onset of life. But instead, he was left to fend for himself and learn everything on his own, merely by observing others and learning from their mistakes. Due to neglect and abandonment during his early stages of his life, the creature developed an aggressive attitude and began to take on many grotesque characteristics. The term?monster? is a key term used in this story. Throughout the entire novel, the creature was named and classified as a monster.
The Monster’s confusion about the world and his inability to understand why he cannot simply be accepted in society drives his actions. Dutoit elaborates on the not so apparent truth that The Monster goes to great lengths to assimilate by acquiring language, understanding mannerisms and participating in customs. The Monster grows fond of a family, at first he watches them carefully, paying close attention to the details of their life and even steals food, unaware of their poverty. Supporting evidence which allows for the conclusion that he is innately good and simply longing for domesticity is shown by The Monsters willingness to help the family with chores, in secret of course. Nevertheless, he is universally shunned by everyone he encounters, except for the old blind man who was willing to have a social connection with him, until his family returned home and in fear rebelled against The Monster. This constant exile only leads to a greater alienation from the social world he deeply longs to be a part of. Unfortunately, due to his outward appearance, his good intentions are ill received by the people he
Why are we the way we are? Is it because we want to be that way or because we were made that way? The debate regarding the nature of humans is one that will never end because there is so much support for each side. It is an issue that humans have spent generations pondering. Two of those people are Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Both have made compelling arguments regarding nature versus nurture.
At first, The Monster is very kind and sympathetic. He has a good heart, as shown when he collected firewood for the family on the brink of poverty. Like every other human creation, he was not born a murderer. All the Monster wanted was to be accepted and loved by Victor Frankenstein and the other humans but instead he was judged by his appearance and considered to be dangerous. The Monster says, “like Adam, I was created apparently united by no link to any other being in existence…many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me” (page 105). This line is an important part of the novel because the Monster lets it be known how like Adam he was created into this world completely abandoned and like Satan he is angry with those people who have found contentment and satisfaction in their lives. The rejection and unwelcome feeling he is faced with, is the main reason the Monster becomes a killer. Watching another family show love towards each other made the Monster realize how alienated he truly was. He did not know how to deal with his pain and emotions so he murders as
Nature vs. Nurture is the lead debate in the Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein. One of the main characters, the monster, has an intuitive nature that makes up his personality and way of life but is condemned to a very different nurturing style. The author Mary Shelley makes it clear that the creature is not born a monster, but that society makes him one by the way he gets treated.
One of the hottest debates is and has been nature vs nurture for years, but what is the difference between the two? Nature is what people think of as already having and not being able to change it, in other words, pre-wiring (Sincero). Nurture is the influence of experiences and its environment of external factors (Sincero). Both nature and nurture play important roles in human development. Scientists and researchers are both trying to figure out which is the main cause in development because it is still unknown on which it is. The best position to side with is nature. Nature is also defined as genetic or hormone based behaviors (Agin). Regardless of the involvement in everyday life, or nurture, this argumentation centers around the effect genes have on human personalities. Although it is understandable on reasons to side with nurture, nature is the better stand in this controversy. Reasons to side with nature is because of genes and what genes hold. Genes is what
The true impact of the way people have seen and learned is sometimes genetics or environmental (where we live). The impact of both is huge but the way of thinking is always changing. In Nurture Vs. Nature, nurture is our environment. Our ever changing environment is seen in violent video games where players think that people won’t actually die and will get back up, a possible solutions, and movies which could create copycat killers.
One of the most well-known debates in psychology is nature versus nurture. Nature is pre-determined traits, influenced by biological factors and genetics. Physical characteristics such as height, hair color, and eye color is all determined by the genetics we inherit. Nurture is the influence of environmental factors. Nature and nurture affects the physical, emotional, and social development of a child.
... The creature only wants to be accepted into society as a man, or successful creation, accepts the fact that he is a monster after every attempt to integrate himself into society fails miserably. The creation of Frankenstein, who was supposed to be the first of many in his new species, was never accepted into society and was left to lead his life alone. His many attempts to tie himself into society and begin living his life as Adam were ignored by others. As a result, the creature took on a life as Satan, a monster, determined to physically harm mankind as retribution for the enormous agony and misery it had placed on his own life.