Psychologists, philosophers, and others have long tried to determine which factors have the biggest influence on determining who we become. Two of the most debated factors have been Nature vs. Nurture. Were we born the way we are because of our genes, or did we become who we are because of our environment or social interactions? Nature and Nurture have both had influences on my adult physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development.
Nature
Nature can be defined as our genetic make-up. We inherit physical traits such as height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin color and facial shape. This code is passed on from generation to generation. My son is the greatest example of this heritability. People often refer to him as my mini-me. He resembles me in almost every way. He has the same physical traits as I do, but they are packed into his smaller frame.
Our cognitive development may also be determined by our genetics. Intelligence and/or developmental disabilities are often passed down from generation to generation. The most significant trait that I inherited from my mother that influenced my cognitive development is her intelligence. My mother and I both have similar intelligence and we both assimilate and process information in the same way.
Nurture
Nurture can be defined as different environmental factors and/or social influences that have potential impacts on our development.
My mother made sacrifices and selected a safe community where her family could live and receive a good education. I had the support of parents, friends, and coaches who gave me an opportunity to excel and play sports. These nurturing factors had a positive influence in both my cognitive and physical development.
Nurture can also help influence our psychosocial development. Parents can often reinforce good