In human development, nature is the hereditary factors or genes. They determine the physical appearances and personality characteristics among humans. In this case, the genes are transferred from the parents to the offspring through reproduction. As a result, the offspring resemble the parents. On the contrary, nurture is the environmental factors like experiences, upbringing, relationships, and the culture in which an individual exists. Also, these factors have an impact on human development.
Behavioural Genetics
A study in behavioural genetics has established that the variations in behaviour are affected by genes. It implies that the genetic materials, responsible for heredity, are passed to the offspring from parents through reproduction. Markedly, the assertion is that the differences in DNA cause systematic psychological differences. However, environmental effects result in random, unsystematic, and unstable differences in behaviour. In this case, environmental factors have no consistent impact on behaviour. Through behavioural genetics, it is possible to quantify the role of nature and nurture in determining psychological traits. For instance, an experiment can be done by observing relatives, since they share similar genes, which are in different environments. Hence, research can capitalize on child adoption to determine how nature and nurture affect human development. Remarkably, research has proven that adopted children are significantly affected by nature due to resemblance with their biological parents. Environmental or adoptive parents have insignificant effects on the child. Similarly, research in heredity can be determined through a comparison of the behaviour of twins. The study has shown that there is inheritance in psychological traits. A study on twins revealed substantial correlation in some behavioural characteristics, including personality and reading abilities.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Interaction Effects
The premise behind nurture is that environmental factors determine the psychological factors. For instance, there exists is a correlation between the willingness of parents to engage their children in reading and the child's learning process. Hence, children perceived to be competent readers have a foundation on the nurturing they receive from parents. Moreover, environmental stress has an impact on depression among individuals. Behavioural genetics quantifies the effects of environmental factors on genetic differences. Therefore, the interaction between biology and cultural contexts determines human behaviour.
The Importance of Parental Influences in Early Childhood Development
Responsible parenting has a significant effect on the interactions between the child and parents. In this case, parents have a concern about the developmental changes, teaching responsibilities, and progressive learning in their children. Therefore, a responsible parent ensures caregiving, discipline, and wellbeing among the children. Also, the parents aim at establishing child behaviour and developmental transitions. Consequently, the nurturing by parental develop the behavioural and cognitive aspects of the child.
Cognitive Development and School Achievement
The interaction between parents and children affects intellectual development and school achievement. In early child development, children learn more from their parents. As teachers to the child, parents play a significant role in familiarising children with new words, objects, places, and colours. Also, parents develop the ability to memorize or recall events, people, and words in the children. As a result, there is rapid cognitive or intellectual development of the child. On the other hand, the initial learning process also influences the school achievement of the child in the later years. Parents provide mentoring for the child to perform well in school through support, setting targets, and rewarding for better performance.
Behaviour
Parents play a vital role in the character and behaviour development of their children. In the early years, the children's interaction with their parents shapes the behaviour of the child in the future. A responsible parent instils good habits in their children. Also, parents influence the cessation of negative behaviours displayed by their children through warnings or punishment. Markedly, children raised by strict parents show respect and have positive behaviour. In this case, discipline is paramount for the child. Therefore, the child's behaviour is greatly attributed to the parents' input and control of the child during early development.
ADHD in Psychology among Adolescents
ADHD is an acronym for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a behavioural disorder among teens that destabilizes their ability to focus on daily routines and requests. Typically, children with ADHD appear unorganized, fail in making realistic plans, and take irrational actions. Also, they are usually noisy and are irresponsive to changings situations. As a result, children are always defiant, aggressive, and socially unfit. Hence, there is no peaceful coexistence of such teens with other people in society. They seem troublesome to others, thus can be avoided. Therefore, it is proper to seek medical treatment or counselling for such children.
Gender in ADHD
There exist stereotypes that the condition only affects young boys. It is perceived that young adolescent boys are the most naughty and hyperactive. However, the state is also prevalent among young girls and even older women. Markedly, the ADHD condition appears strange to people when displayed by the female gender. Females are thought to be more organized, calm, and collected. Nevertheless, ADHD is a condition that affects both genders.
Symptoms of ADHD
Inattention
The manifestation of inattention prevails when an individual fails to sustain attention. In this case, they get distracted easily or fail to pay attention to instructions and details. Signs that one is not attentive include fidgeting or failure to respond to the instructions. As a result, these people make unnecessary mistakes in school and forgetting things. Inattentive symptoms are diagnosed mostly among girls with ADHD.
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are characterized by talking excessively or inappropriate interruptions, while others are speaking. Also, the teens appear to be restless, having the zeal to get engaged in anything. The diagnosis of boys with hyperactive or impulsive symptoms has shown positive results of ADHD. Therefore, Hyperactivity and Impulsivity is more prevalent in boys than in girls.
Causes of ADHD
Research has established that environmental factors are a significant cause of ADHD. For instance, exposure to toxins like lead and pesticides results in ADHD. Also, prenatal drinking of alcohol or cigarette smoking leads to this mental disorder. On the other hand, parenting strategies regulates the abilities of the children. Markedly, parents are responsible for inculcating consistent discipline among their children. Besides, responsive caregiving ensures that children do not feel neglected. It might affect their impulses or attention in the future. Therefore, parenting and environmental factors are significant causes of ADHD.
Treatment of ADHD
In the treatment of ADHD, there is an application of both behavioural and medication treatments. First, stimulant medication is the most preferred treatment for ADHD. In this case, Ritalin and Adderall are the most common drug that is administered to ADHD patients. There is sufficient evidence that this treatment is effective in managing ADHD. Besides, those who are not responsive to stimulants are subjected to non-stimulants. They include Strattera and some depressants. However, behaviour treatment is also effective for some teens. It is administered by counselling the youths to control the manageable symptoms of the disorder. For instance, it is easier to counsel an adolescent to maintain attention in a school setting. Markedly, the combination of both behavioural and medication approaches to ADHD is more effective for managing the disorder among teenagers.
Effect of ADHD on Relationships
Inattention has a significant negative impact on maintaining relationships. Such people are susceptible to distractions. In this case, loved ones feel they are neglected when they do not receive maximum attention. Adolescent friends are prone to sharing moments or events and chatting. Inattentive friends may have fewer friends because others do not enjoy their company.
Defiance and aggressiveness due to hyperactivity and impulsivity among adolescents lead to adverse relationships with friends, teachers, and parents. In a school setting, defiance is a sign of indiscipline and rudeness. These acts are punishable to the teens. These may develop a dislike for either party. Also, parents cannot tolerate defiant children. They subject them to disciplinary actions. On the other hand, friends may develop a phobia towards teens that are aggressive due to the possibility of harming them. Notably, defiance and aggressiveness result in negative relationships between adolescents and others.
Depression in Psychology among Adults
Depression refers to the feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, sadness, pessimism among individuals. The mental disorder affects the motivation, concentration, thoughts, emotions, and feelings of the person. The condition is prevalent among adults. However, the disorder affects all ages of people across the world. Depression is a complex state that affects many-body systems. Depression is also accompanied by anxiety. Research indicates that depression has a genetic pattern. Nevertheless, the condition is treatable.
Signs of Depression
Disruptions in Sleep
Depression has a negative effect on sleep patterns among people. Depressed people hardly find sleep, and sometimes awaken very early in the morning. Markedly, they are experience insomnia. This sleeplessness is a result of restlessness among individuals. On the contrary, some depressed individuals oversleep and wake up very late. It is an indication of hopelessness in life. Oversleeping appears to be a source of consolation to them. The situation is prevalent among adults.
Loss of Interest
Depressed adults often lose interest or pleasure in life. In this case, they fail to enjoy their hobbies and leisure time. The activities they enjoyed most previously no longer seem exciting or funny to them. Also, they interact less or not at all with their friends. Hence, they may prefer to abandon themselves from others. Such individuals are less social with others, thus keep too much to them. A depressed person will be identified with high degrees of loneliness or intentional isolation from others. The loss of interest and pleasure in hobbies and interactions indicates that an individual has depression.
Negative Thoughts and Change in Mood
A depressed adult is obsessed with negative thoughts and mood. In this case, the individual has persistent sad moments, pessimism, hopelessness, and worthlessness. Such individuals lose motivation in life and have no drive for success. Hence, they have no vision for a progressive future. Moreover, depressed people depict thoughts associated with death or suicide. Some leave threats of suicidal attempts in written form before committing suicide. Markedly, negative thoughts and mood are indications of depression among adults.
Causes of Depression
Negative Experiences
A potential cause of depression is experiencing adverse events in life. Notably, adults experience a lot of events in their lifetime. With the power of memory, they are prone to remember some of the events vividly. For instance, loss of relatives or partners, a complicated relationship, or trauma triggers negative thoughts or memories among individuals. Also, consistent tough moments of struggle in life impacts negatively on the motivation of individuals. Hence, those who lack resilience are susceptible to give up. Subsequently, it results in depression.
Genetic Vulnerability
Research has shown that some types of depression are inherent in some families. Notably, they are transmitted from the parents to the offspring. Markedly, some families are reported with similar incidences of suicide. The assertion is that there is heredity of depression, which leads to consistent cases of suicide.
Treatment of Depression
First, drug therapy is effective in relieving some of the symptoms caused by depression. Signs like headaches or anxiety can be treated using drugs. Secondly, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is significant for treating depression. It helps people to identify harmful and ineffective behaviour and thinking patterns. It results in the acquisition of new functional behaviours and positive thoughts. Hence, it helps depressed individuals to concentrate on finding solutions to their current problems. CBT is effective in treating depression through the regulation of harmful behaviours and thought patterns. However, a combination of drug therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy is effective for the treatment of depression.
