Introduction

A pleasant evening BSED English 22 The Key Issue on Human Development

and Doc Ramos. I am Ashley G. Rafacon
The key issues on human
and allow me to comprehensively tackle
development refers to the contradicting
about The Key Issues on Human
theories and conflicting ideas that has been
Development, specifically on the Nature
raised to explain the changes that happens as
versus Nurture.
the individual grows and develops.
The reason for these contradicting
Learning Objectives theories and ideas to arise is the complexity
of human development. Because once again,
But before we begin our discussion,
human development is a complex yet
let us take a look about our learning
mesmerizing process that we all undergo
objectives for tonight.
with. And it is not enough that we will just
At the end of the topic, the learners look into one perspective for us to
should be able to: understand this.

1. Identify the various key issues on So, there are three key issues on
human development. human development.
2. Understand the difference between
We have the nature vs. nurture these
nature and nurture.
centers on the contributions of genetics and
3. Know the interaction between nature
environmental factors to human
and nurture when it comes to human
development.
development.
Then, we have the continuous or
discontinuity, it focuses on the debate
Human Development whether human development is a gradual
process or there are disturbances.
On our previous discussion, the first
set of discussant talks about the Human Lastly, is the stability vs. change. It
Development. One of the things that I revolves around the idea whether there are
remembered during our discussion is when traits or behavior that are constant
Mr. Mendoza emphasized that we, humans, throughout our lives.
are not stagnant we are bound to change
over time. So, technically human
development refers to progressive series of But on this topic discussion, we will
change that we experienced as human beings be focusing more with the nature vs. nurture
from conception to death. This includes our
development and growth when it comes to
our physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
aspect.
Nature vs. Nurture
As we proceed with our topic Nature
discussion, may I call on Mr. Drei Torres
Nature largely refers to our genetic
and Ms. Zoleta to join me here in front to
imprints. This includes the genes that we
show their exceptional voice here in our
have when we were born together with other
class.
heredity factors that can affect our
Thank you for that, let us give them personality and influence our
around of applause. Before you take your development.
sits, may I ask if you considered your ability
From the word hereditary, these are
to sing caused by your inherited genes or by
the characteristics that came from previous
the environment you live at?
generation that are passed down until future
Thank you for participating, you may generation. These are the things that we
now take your sits. So, Mr. Torres mentioned cannot avoid because it is already imprinted
that his ability to sing is caused by the on us. Therefore, the genetic codes that we
environment, meanwhile Ms. Zoleta have, provides a base which our brain and
mentioned it is because of the inherited body will grow and develop through the
genes. manifestation of our appearance and
behavior.
So now, the question with nature and
nurture is that are we who we are because of In our previous discussion, we
our genetics or because of our environment? learned that genetic and heredity factors
include our physical appearance, such our
Basically, nature deals with genes
height, weight, the color of our skin and
and heredity factors, meanwhile nurture
eyes. It also includes our psychological
refers to the environmental variables such as
characteristics, such as our intelligence,
our experiences and our interaction with the
talents, and personality. Other than that, this
world around us.
also genetic and hormonal imbalances.
In the perspective of nature, it
To further understand this, let us take implies that the person’s psychological
a look first at the lens of nature. tendencies, personal attributes, and
mental capabilities are wired in or innate
to them when they were born. That is why
we have innatism who supported this
concept because they opposed the idea of
tabula rasa. For them, we are not blank slate
at birth because there is already innate
knowledge to us even before we were born.
This implies that, the way you think, the
way you behave, your talents, is the
manifestation of your genetic code. So, these
are manifested when we undergo through
maturation brought by development where
we were able to unleased and unravel our
potential brought by our genetic code. Nurture
For instance, Ms. Zoleta’s ability to If in nature, it claims that the one that
sing is because of her inherited genes. We affects our development is our biological
can say that her ancestors are good at it. But factors, specifically our genes. In nurture, it
at my case, even I sing every day, I am not states that the one that affects our
good at it because I do not have genetic code development is the environmental factors.
when it comes to this. Aside from that, when Which includes our experiences, learning,
we talked about the mental capability of a and upbringing in life.
person. When both of the parents have high
IQ, it is expected to their children to be In nurture, we have here what we
intellectual as well. called as the empiricism. It is a
philosophical view that believes human
So, are you familiar with the movie beings are like tabula rasa, we are blank
of Anne Curtis, “The Gifted”. There is a part slate at birth. Which means, when we were
in this movie where she said, “Pinanganak born, we know nothing. And our learning
kang bobo, mamatay kang bobo.” Which and potential was unleased by the
means, if your parents have a low IQ, you, experiences we have once we interact and
as their offspring will inherent that as well. socialize with the environment that we are
Therefore, even how much you study, even part of.
you pour your blood, sweat, and tears, you
will have remained the same because of your In case of Drei, he mentioned that his
inherited genes. It is because that is angelic voice was brought by environmental
unchangeable, it is fix. Kung anong genes factors. Whereas, here in nurture, it does nit
ang dinadala mo habang nabubuhay ka, ayan considered whatever genes you have. You
din ang genes na dadalhin mo sa kamatayan can be good at something when you are
mo. exposed to that environment. For example,
when you are a fan of k-pop music, you
could be good at singin especially when you
practice everyday.
Now, let us proceed on the perspective of
nurture. Then, in case of our mental capacity,
in nurture it does not take genetics
accountable to the knowledge that we have.
Because this depends on how we study. So
you could start with a minimum intellectual
capacity and as you interact with your
environment, it would provide you learnings
that will help to improve your capacity.
Which means the characteristics you have
when you were born could differ and
nourish through the help of the various be exposed to environment where it would
environmental factors we have. be able to enhance its skill that will mean
nothing. That potential will not be nourished
and unfold.
Other than that, when we talked
Nature vs. Nurture about the height of a person. Yes, that is on
biological factor but the environment plays a
So, in the debate between nature and significant role to this one. For example, if a
nurture, it is trying to prove which one is person has a genes where it could be as tall
stronger and making a significant impact as 6feet, but belongs to lower stratification
when it comes to human development. class. Then, it is expected that person is not
So, as we end our discussion for today. Let receiving the nutrients it needed because of
us try to differentiate them once again the environment its part of. Then, that
person will not be able to grow to its full
Nature potential.
 Inherited Another example is when a person
 Genes has a high IQ, but that person was
 Fixed influenced by its peer groups to just party
 Unchangeable and drink alcohol all day. When they had an
 Innatism exam, that person will most likely to fail.
Nurture Because that person is not able to study on
the upcoming exam.
 Environment
 Things around you Aside from that, we talked
 Changeable previously about the LGBTQIA+, it was
 Empiricism mentioned that it is more of the
environmental factors. But genes also play a
significant role to this. As we all know, in
Contemporary Views to Nature vs. our body we have testosterone and estrogen.
Nurture But there are cases that estrogen is higher
than the testosterone in men that is why they
Scientist, psychologist, and are more feminine. That is somehow affects
philosophers in modern times recognized their gender preference. So, when it comes
that neither nature nor nurture is stronger or to this topic, we cannot say that being gay is
superior when it comes to human only affected by the environment of a
development. It is because we cannot isolate person, their genetic imprint also contributed
them from one another. Whether we like it to this.
or not, they are interacting with one another
which results to our development.
For instance, we can say someone is
talented when it comes to singing because of
their genes. However, if that person will not
Conclusion
In conclusion, we cannot measure
which one is stronger than the other. It is
because nature and nurture will always
interact when it comes to our development.
So, we cannot defend our behavior by
saying, “My genes is acting up.” It is
because we might not have a choice when it
comes to our genes, but we have a choice
when it comes to the environment we will
part of. We will always have a choice when
it comes to our development. So, at the end
of the day nasa atin na kung pipiliin nating
tumanda ng paurong.
Once again, I am Ashley G. Rafacon
and as I end my discussion I would like to
say that this should not be Nature vs.
Nurture. It should be Nature and Nurture as
both of them interplay in our development.