# data[].attributes.body
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evil

Good and Evil:
-Thinking about "good" and "evil" is a misleading concept, and one that is rooted in justice systems across the world
-This concept has triggered multiple conflicts, and even wars, throughout history
-The idea still influences events today
-Human nature is more complex than the concept of good and evil
-There are countless amounts of both "good" and "evil" combinations found in people
-A surprising amount of "evil" behavior has to do with environmental factors
-People identify the word "good" with being selfless or noble
-"Good" people have the ability to empathize with others and put their needs before their own
-Good people see beyond the boundaries that divide society and individuals within
-Examples in history: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King
-"Evil" people do not have the ability to empathize with others, or their own desires blind them
-People who are considered evil tend to be extremely narcissistic
-Most evil people view other humans as objects and have no sense of their rights
-Examples: Stalin, Hitler, serial killers, rapists
-Although most people have personalities in between those like Ghandi and Hitler, the determining factor of whether someone is good or evil is dependent upon how fixed their empathy, or lack thereof, really is

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture

Nature vs Nurture:
-The debate includes scientific, cultural, and philosophical aspects
-Nature: genetic or hormone-based behaviors
-Nurture: environment and experience
-1960s psychologists were influenced by theories on behavior
-theory led to the belief that personality is mainly influenced by environmental factors
-Recently the genetic side of the debate has been getting more popular
-Scientists have been discovering more links between genes and behavior
-Nature has been proven to be the bigger factor in developing mental health problems such as:
-schizophrenia
-bipolar
-major depression
-Studies have shown that alcohol addiction can recur in families
-Nurture also plays a role in mental illnesses
-Life events and experiences greatly impact the chances of developing conditions
-Childhood bullying, abuse, and other trauma increases the risk
-Twins separated at birth are very likely to have similar personalities due to genetics
-Environment was only a bigger factor when twins were raised apart instead of in one home
-Some genes cannot be activated without certain environmental aspects
-Some environmental aspects can be undermined by certain genes

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.verywell.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392

Nature versus Nurture

Nurture:

Environmental variables impact who a person is

Early childhood experiences

How someone was raised

Social relationships

Culture

The behavior of a person can be from parenting styles and experiences

Nativists

Think all or most behavior and characteristics are inherited

Genetic traits from parents influence the person and makes them special

Language acquisition device

Children are born with mental capacity

Allows them to learn and speak languages

Empiricists

Think all or most behaviors and characteristics come from learning

People could be trained to become something

Didn’t matter about their background

Nature Characteristics

Genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, life expectancy, and height

Nature and nurture influence the behavior and development of people

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evil

The Real Meaning of  'Good' and 'Evil'

People can have good and bad qualities

Cruel and brutal behavior is from environmental factors

Abusive childhood or learning from others

Good

Lack of self-centeredness

Empathise with others, feel compassion, put other's needs before yours, sacrifice yourself for others

Examples

Ghandi and Martin Luther King

Risked own safety for gaining equal rights for Indians and African Americans

Evil

Can’t empathise with others

Own needs are more important

Selfish, self-absorbed, and narcissistic

Examples

Stalin, Hitler, killers, rapists

Can’t sense other people’s emotions or suffering

See from their perspective

Don’t know their own rights

Offenders are able to meet victims

See how they were affected

Leads to empathy for the victims

Turns into rehab for offender

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Nature Effect on Mental Health

Factor in development of some mental health conditions

Schizophrenia, bipolar, and depression

Identical Twins

Share genes

If one twin develops a disease then the other twin has 50% chance of developing it too

Nature not only contributing factor

Alcohol addiction

Can recur in families

Certain genes can change the way alcohol tastes and have an effect on the body

Nurture Effect on Mental Health

Life events and experiences

Childhood bullying, abuse or other trauma

Supports idea of nurture’s role

Twins

Twins being separated play a role in the development of characteristics

Environment had little effect on personality when raised together

Had effect when raised apart

Some genes can’t be activated without environment

Vision

Can’t develop normal eyesight without exposure

# data[].attributes.body
(I have some articles and notes about them, then I answered then questions in my own words sing what I learned from my research)
http://theweek.com/articles/666037/problem-nature-vs-nurture-debate

The Problem With the Nature vs Nurture Debate

Nature=genetic and cannot be changed

Maes people ask questions like whether or not their IQ is fixed and predetermined

Many researchers have found certain genes that are often found with a group of people like smokers or people with cancer

http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/get-healthy/healthy-living/nwi-heart-experts-watch-out-for-family-history/article_f92b21ef-1a53-585e-aba4-3433703b768c.html

NWI Heart Experts: Watch Out For Family History

Someone in very good shape had heart attack (“runs” in family)

Healthy lifestyle only means the heart disease will happen later

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Nature (genetically) affects mental health

Learned to have psychopathic mind but brought up in loving environment

Both childhood abuse or trauma and former problems with a family are major causes of mental health issues

Studies done show genes affect personality

Theory that they must work together or that one triggers the other

(Really intresting!) http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html

Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology

Child’s attachment formed by love originally given

On the flip, the attachment is genetically formed as a species’ way of survival

Aggression learnt through observation/imitation

Smart running in family = “natural superiority” testing proven this

Some believe behavioral traits can be improved or seen more often through breeding

Connecting to holocaust, IQ affected by life, many children born in ghettos or shortly before ghettos scored lower on tests because they did not get the same experiences

Some newspapers claim that scientists have found new genes like the “gay gene” or one for alcoholism

What is Nature vs. Nurture?

Nature = genetics

Nurture = environment

They affect different things in a species such as behaviors or physical traits

What Makes People Good or Bad?

Usually the way they are brought up

Past experiences (trauma)

Some scientists believe it to be genetics

# data[].attributes.body
Nature and Nurture

Article Used
Nature:
-gained from genetic and biological influences (in a person's DNA)
-developed by a person's instincts or "survival factor"
-traits inherited from parents
-genetic mutation can change instinct
-genetics in other people is not part of nature

Nurture:
-environmental factors (friends, family, culture, society) that influence somebody's personality and actions
-birth is not an environmental factor, although the neighborhood a person grew up in is
-parents and the way someone is raised is an environmental factor

# data[].attributes.body
https://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate

Nature:

States that our behaviors and personalities are already pre-programmed in our genetics

Due to the fact that our genes influence our physical appearence, why can’t they influence our emotional attributes?

Nurture:

Claims that the environment we live in is the true influencing factor on our behaviors

That our personalities can be influenced by family and friends, and the social environment around u

http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html

Nature is thought to be the behaviors wired into you, and nurture is the environment’s effects on your actions, behaviors, and personality

It’s a long standing debate wether or not our personalities are pre-programmed, much like our hair color, eye color, and other physical traits

This is the nature side of the argument

It is also thought that if a person grows up in a harsh environment, their personality may alter, this is just one example of the nurture side of the debate

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evi

Human nature is not defined in stark terms of good and evil, instead it is a mix between the two

Most cruel behavior is caused by the environment around the person

It is possible for a person who has shown “evil” behavior after rehabilitation to begin to show traits of “good”

Good loosely means a lack of selfishness- put others before yourself- but not the only way

People that are thought of as “good” are able to show empathy

“Evil” people have difficulty understanding or showing empathy

This is due to them not understanding how the people that they hurt suffer.

Most humans behave in a mix of good and evil- not good all the time but not bad either

Therapy is starting to be offered to people considered “evil” in order to help them change

https://www.thoughtco.com/nature-vs-nurture-1420577
Nature vs. Nurture
Background
-traced back to France in the 1200's
-based on the premise of are people developed by their enviroment or by their genes
-Good evidence for both sided of the argument
Nature Theory
-The nature theory says that all personality traits are based on one's DNA
-Can be used to justify crimes?
-Studies with twins show that when they are raised apart they are still similar to each other
Nurture Theory
-The theory is based on children act the way they are raised
-The little Albert studies support this- children were able to be changed
-Some studies sugest humor is a learned trait
-Identical twins are very similar but not exactly the same- conflicts with the nature theory

# data[].attributes.body
(Melanie Browdy)
What Is Nature Versus Nurture?
https://www.verywell.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392

Nature = genes/hereditary factors that influence somebody (physically, personality wise_

Nurture = environmental factors that influence somebody (early childhood, how they are raised, social lives, culture)

It’s very controversial even among respected psychologists whether nature or nurture has the biggest influence (biological psychology vs behaviorism)

Nativists:

Have the view that every behavior is due to evolution and genetics

Empiricists

“Tabula rasa” (John Locke) means your brain is a blank slate at birth and your whole personality and behaviors are shaped by how you grow up

They believe anybody can turn out to be anything as long as they grow up in the right condition

Part of the debate is how much of a negative or positive behavior is due to nature vs nurture (what explains academic excellence or violent tendencies)

Some things are nature or nurture (for example, finding perfect pitch by ear can be genetic, but that isn’t the only way to have the trait)

Most people believe both have a strong influence on people, but don’t know which has the stronger influence

Why Some People Are Evil
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moral-molecule/201109/why-some-people-are-evil

The average person releases a chemical called Oxytocin in their brain when they have a positive social signal

Many people with traits of psychopaths or people who are psychopaths do not release it when they are faced with such a signal

Traits of a psychopath include being charming, greedy, and deceptive, even to themselves

People with little Oxytocin (psychopaths) often have little regard for other’s safety and wellbeing

Psychopaths are loners, stuck in survival mode

This is similar to people who were abused as children, as the circuit for Oxytocin does not develop properly, impairing their social skills

Stress lowers Oxytocin release and not at our bests, but this is permanent for psychopaths

Nature vs Nurture in Psychology

http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html
(there was overlap with another article so it may seem like I didn't take notes on all of the article, but I just didn't want to repeat information)

The nature vs nurture debate is a spectrum

Starting with the nature side, there is a biological approach to psychology

This explains behavior with genes, hormones, and neurochemicals

Next is psychoanalysis

This says some things are nature and some are nurture

Cognitive psychology

Says mental structures are constantly shaped by one’s surroundings

Humanism

Says that society influences somebody’s self concept (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs)

Behaviorism, the approach most influenced by nurture

All behavior is learned through conditioning in the environment

Environmentalist is another term for empiricist

Very few people take extreme positions on either side in practice because there is too much evidence for both, meaning both sides are right

Eugenics came from people who thought nature alone influenced a person, which made them sterilize people they saw as unfavorable and encourage others to breed

Sometimes the debate becomes political or prejudiced

People are realizing nature or nurture can not be assigned to a certain trait because they work together

In psychopathology, researchers say that both genetic predisposition and a trigger in the environment are needed to develop a mental disorder

# data[].attributes.headline
Quinn Halpern                     Does Birth Order Affect Personality?+Stereotypes   

# data[].attributes.subject
Quinn Halpern                     Does Birth Order Affect Personality?+Stereotypes   

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/birth-order-traits
Firstborn stereotypes
- Natural leader, responsible, ambitious
Why it's true
- Often adopt role of "semi-parents" when next child arrives
- Is sole source of attention from parents
Possible "disruptors"
- Parents set high expectations for child, then child doesn't fulfill
- Child then veers off to different direction

Middle child stereotypes
- Social Butterfly, Peacekeeper, fairness-obsessed
Why it's true
- often don't have rights of oldest or privelgies of youngest- Just want everything to be equal
Become experts of negotiation/comp-omise
Why it's not
- If older doesn't fill role, sometimes middle takes over vacancy- Then would adopt role of older

"They Baby" stereotypes
- Free spirit, risk taker, charming
Why it's true
- Parents are less cautious- Parents more lenient for younger kids
Why it's not
- Some resent not being taken seriously

http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html
Nature Vs. Nurture
Nature
- Focus on genetic/hormonal explanation of behavior
- Drives toward success or other goals- Innate mental structures affected by natural environment rather than people

Nurture
- Social upbringing during childhood affected by family/friends

# data[].attributes.body
Taking the 'vs.' out of nature vs. nurture
http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov04/nature.aspx
-ideas of cultural and evolutionary psychologists (historically not much to say to each other, opposite viewpoints)
-know that the other has a good explanation, but believes theirs is better, wants a bigger role in answering question.
=Evolutionary Standpoint:
-being able to create, adapt, pass on cultures are from evolution
-human brains have to be so complex to have culture
-early humans had less complex brains
-smarter brains dominated ancestors, dominant gene, came down to Homo sapiens
=Cultural Standpoint:
-second force in human nature
- actively create worlds unlike other species
-interaction with culture helps increase brain intelligence
-cultures answer theoretical and existential questions, and shape psychologies
=Merging Views
-at conference, both were open-minded and generally positive
-how to combine if completely different?
-evolutionary is focused on human potential for culture, cultural is how potential is turned into a psychological system
-if joined together, can answer the "why" questions
-both answered similarly
-used terms "adaption," "time," "environment"
=Evolutionary
-Darwinian sense of terms
-adaptations are frequent biological changes because of contribution to reproductive success
=Cultural
-looser definition
-changes in practices, values, institutions in social, ecological, historical contexts
--------------------------------------------
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/nature-versus-nurture
-culture, behavior, personality due to nature or nurture
-NATURE: genetics
-NURTURE: environment
=History of Nature vs. Nurture
-modern has to do mostly with genes on personality as opposed to early environment influence
-60's had influence of behaviorism
-influenced primarily by training/experience
-set against each other
=Nature and Mental Health
-genetics has been an impt. factor in mental conditions
-e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar, depression
-bipolar: 4-6x +likely when family condition
-not entirely genetic
-nature not only factor
-addictions more nature than nurture
=Nurture and Mental Health
-genes dispose for illness, but probability of development partly environmental
-nurturing and loving environment can lower severity of condition or not develop at all
-basis for addiction can be nurture based as well
-2nd strongest mental health contributor was nature, but strongest was nurture
=Nature x Nurture
-scientists combined: can't have one without the other
-some genes need environmental input to work correctly
-have to work together
--------------------------------------------
Nature Versus Nurture
http://www.news.ucsb.edu/2016/016561/nature-versus-nurture
-combination of genetics and environments
-which one is favored is the debate
-environmental vs genetic  for intelligence levels of low birth weight children
-key finding: "interventions did raise intelligence levels, but not permanently."
-when ended, effects diminished over time "the fadeout effect"
-certain interventions can increase intelligence
-needs to make changes to underlying intelligence
-study used had 985 children who had intense and cognitively demanding environment 1st 3 yrs
-3 interventions used
-age 3 had IQ test as baseline
-had raised at age 3, faded by 5 and 8
-intelligence in one age can be a cause of intelligence in another age
-need interventions, can't rely only on nature

# data[].attributes.headline
Aidan Morrison                Nature vs Nurture

# data[].attributes.subject
Aidan Morrison                Nature vs Nurture

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.reference.com/world-view/difference-between-nature-nurture-6ee8880c5f7b90f0-
https://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate-
-Nature: inherited traits coming from past generations
-A naturalistic view on the passing of human qualities means that one agrees with the belief of genetics or biological reasoning to influence actions and characteristics
-Genetics influences our appearance
-Nurture: traits learned as life goes on
-Behaviorism, a sub category to nurture, deals with traits and qualities gained from ones surroundings
-Environment determines our behavior and interests

# data[].attributes.body
Nature and Nurture

Article Used
Nature:
-gained from genetic and biological influences (in a person's DNA)
-developed by a person's instincts or "survival factor"
-traits inherited from parents
-genetic mutation can change instinct

Nurture:
-environmental factors (friends, family, culture, society) that influence somebody's personality and actions
-birth is not an environmental factor, although the neighborhood a person grew up in is
-

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.thoughtco.com/nature-vs-nurture-1420577
4 pages but very spaced out, so around 2.5 full pages
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature:
- instinctive behaviors and genetic predispositions
- born with the behavior, part of DNA/genes
- "inborn abilities/traits
- "Nature theory" believes that in addition to physical traits, intelligence, personality, and other unique aspects of an individual are part of their DNA
- search for "behavioral" genes = debated
- can be used to excuse/justify criminal acts (or any actions) because they are believed to be unaffected by other aspects of life
Nurture:
- Certain behaviors that result from teachings of others
- behaviors/traits instilled because of life experiences/circumstances
- "Nurture theory" believes that environmental factors of upbringing are the main factor in behavioral development
- infant/child temperament studies reveal supporting evidence
- learned traits that are not part of DNA, molded as we learn and grow
- although DNA plays a part, it doesn't determine who you are/become
- identical twins are still very different (studies done)

- issue debated = how much of each "theory" is true
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/201008/nature-vs-nurture-the-debate-rages
1.5 pages
-  brain research (2010) shows that psychopathy may be biologically based and not purely based on nurture
- psychopath:usually unable to experience empathy (leads to violent/abnormal behaviors)
- can be due to abusive childhood/other traumatic experiences, but not all who experience these situations become psychotic
- our society believes all children are born "good" or "neutral"
- Autism previously believed to be caused by an unloving mother- now we know it is a mental disorder responsible for the child's social abnormalities
- believing a violent/psychotic person is "that way" because of bad parenting/life trauma = a sense of control
- nurture is seen as a more controllable factor, while nature is viewed as unchangeable
- when someone commits a crime, it is easier/less scary to blame it on their experiences rather than DNA, because DNA makes it seem less preventable and/or "fixable"
- parents have some control (relationship development skills), but parents can't control everything, so nature is also responsible for one's actions/thoughts
- there isn't one "right" theory; combination of both nature and nurture

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evil
- we oversimplify good and evil- they are not as black and white as they seem
- people can be a combination of both: kind people can have bad childhoods, and violent people can have the same type of childhood
- cruel behaviors are often from environmental factors (contrary to above article)

- "good" = selflessness, empathy, compassion, and sacrificing yourself for others/"greater cause"
- seeing past race/gender/ethnicity and relating to the "common human"
- all revered "good" ppl in society have these qualities (Gandhi, MLKjr.)

- "evil" = lack of empathy, selfishness, and willingness to exploit others for own needs
- ex: Stalin, Hitler, serial killers
- don't see others emotions/suffering = no sense of others rights
- objectify other humans

- most ppl are between these two extremes (Gandhi->Hitler)
- sometimes ppl behave badly, but other times we are "good"
- diff. between this fluid "good and evil" theory and the traditional "good VS evil" theory is that this theory believes empathy can be learned
- seeing their victims helps criminals see the damage they've done, while shutting them away allows them to not feel the pain they've caused
- teaching empathy can get rid of these "evil" qualities and replace them with "good" ones

# data[].attributes.body
"What is Nature Versus Nurture?"

Nature = all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are – physical appearance and  personality traits (genetics)

Nurture = environmental variables that impact personality – early childhood experiences, how we were raised, friends, and culture

philosophers such as Plato and Descartes say that most traits are inevitable, regardless of environmental influences

Nativists say that all/most behaviors/characteristics are inhereted

Empiricists say that all/most behaviors/characteristics are learned

Examples of biologically determined characteristics (nature) include certain genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color

Other things like life expectancy and height have a strong biological component, but are also influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle

most experts believe that both nature and nurture influence behavior and development, but it is still contraversial in many areas such as in the debate on the origins of homosexuality and intelligence

"Are We Naturally Good or Bad?"

debated whether we have a  good nature that is corrupted by society, or a bad nature that is kept in check by society

Babies are perfect to look at nature vs nurture

Absolute minimum cultural influence – no friends, no school, no books

Minds are as innocent as possible

lack of language makes in hard to get info on them

however, they reach for things they want or like, and they will tend to look longer at things that surprise them

http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html

wondering whether psychological characteristics like behavior, personality traits, and mental abilities are genetic, just like physical traits

Examples of an extreme nature positions in psychology

Bowlby's theory of attachment- the bond between mother and child is a process that ensures survival

Chomsky- language is gained through the use of an innate language acquisition device

growing realization that the question of “how much” behavior is due to heredity and “how much” to the environment may itself be the wrong question

For example, intelligence- nature and nurture contribute in different ways both important

The Human Genome Project- tracing types of behavior to particular strands of DNA located on specific chromosomes

Newspaper reports announce that scientists are on the verge of discovering (or have already discovered) the gene for criminality, for alcoholism or the “gay gene”

# data[].attributes.body
"The Real Meaning of 'Good and Evil'"
- Oversimplification of good and evil
- Good: Being selfless, relating to human essence rather than race, religion, etc.
- Evil: Selfish, have little to no empathy and just see others as objects
- Good and evil can be cultivated and empathy can be created
- Both are the result of connection/disconnection to other people.

"Nature vs. Nurture"
-  Environment vs genetics, experiences vs hormone-based behaviors
-  Originally, it was primarily believed to be nurture, but new studies have come out contesting that theory.
- Although nature has gained more ground, most still agree nurture is important in early childhood.
- Nature important in depression, bipolar, addiction, and schizophrenia.
- Nurture influences nature -- depression, addiction, and mental disorders all are based in nature but can be heavily influenced in nurture
- Overall, most agree nature and nurture work together to create the best mixture.

# data[].attributes.body
"Nature vs Nurture in Psychology"
http://www.simplypsychology.org/naturevsnurture.html
-Nature-genetic traits and Nurture-traits that are learned or sprouted from experiences
-Maturing is a factor- behaviors may come up at different ages and times
-Nativists- People who believe a person is made up from genetics and all of their traits come from their birth-parents
-Environmentalists- People who believe a person is taught everything through experience and is born with a empty mind
- Attachment- A link to a mother or father figure that can either be strong or weak may affect the offspring's traits
-Bowlby's Theory of Attachment
A strong connection between a mother and her child is very important to survival
-Genetic diseases and illnesses will travel from parent to child, in this case they are not a product of nurture
- Both nature and nurture are necessary for one to have, are codependent

"Nature and Nature"
https://www.education.com/reference/article/nature-nurture/

-Universal Genes
Most children are able to do certain things as they grow up on instinct
-walk,  use simple tools, etc.
-Physical traits are usually genetic and passed on from parents to offspring... Hair color, eye color, etc
-Children temperament- traits resulted from emotional occurrence
-The way a child acts affects the way he/she grows up or matures
-Behaviors like being shy or courageous can be genetic, but could also be influenced by an adult or an environment
-Timing matters- Meaning when and where big events occur in a child's life one could affect the traits one has or takes on

"The Real Meaning of Good and Evil"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evil

-Many people think one can just be good or bad... this isn't true
-Concept led to many debates, arguments, discussions, and even wars
-If one does something bad they may be labeled as evil and thought to need urgent punishment
- Could make crimes OK

-Good... (Many definitions)
-Being empathetic, willing to put others before yourself for the greater good, ignoring race/gender/nationality when making decisions, empathetic, good with other people, and many other traits

-Evil... (Many definitions as well)
-Selfish, negative, unable to empathize others, can't read or process others emotions (might not even care about them)

-Some may act good or evil on an impulse without actually being one or the other
-Better way to judge the situation
Instead of locking one up if thought to be evil
Talk to the person and understand their background and incentives for committing horrible acts

-Goodness can come out within a person when connected to others... this is common

# data[].attributes.body
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature:
behavior determined by genes
- our genes determine traits, such as hair and eye color
- ethical question, is personality determined by genes
- "behavioral genes" somewhat proven in fraternal twins
- even when brought up separately, twins often end up with similar personalities as if they had in fact grown up together
Nurture:
behavior determined by environment
- holds with the use of conditioning in order to alter or else create a behavior
- though twins raised apart do share many similar personality traits, it is clear to see the effect their environment has as well
overall debate:
are we born this way or do our experiences change the way we behave.

What makes people "Good" or "Evil"
- "good" and "evil" is too over simplified
- saying someone is "bad" or a bad person, means getting rid of them would make the world better
- this is not the case in the real world
- this concept has fuelled many conflicts in history and today
- human nature is not simply good and evil
- those that show 'bad' qualities  such as hatred and violence can also show 'good' such as empathy and kindness
- there is some of both is all people
- so one can not be labeled as good or evil
- good = lack of self-centeredness
- to be compassionate and to put the needs of others above your own
- sacrificing your own well-being for others
- ex: MLK
- evil = those unable to empathize with others
- can't sense emotions of others or their suffering
- selfish, self absorbed, and narcissistic
- ex: Stalin and Hitler
Nature vs Nurture in Psychology
- inherited characteristics
- acquired characteristics
- genetic inheritance and other biological factors
- nurture = external factors, experiences, learning
- the debate is over the proportion of how much each influences the person's behavior
- eye, hair, skin color, diseases all genetic, but is behavior also genetic?
- at a young age genetic appearances are not visible
- does it work the same way for behavioral characteristics
- both nature and nurture are essential for any type of behavior
- they do not interact in a separate way but rather in a complex manner

# data[].attributes.body
The Meaning of Good and Evil
- good often refers to lack of self-centeredness
- ability to empathize with others, put others before yourself
- benevolence, altruism, selflessness, self-sacrifice for greater good
- human beings with exceptional degree of empathy and compassion overriding personal concerns
- evil people unable to sympathize with others
- own needs of utter importance
- others only value them to degree able to satisfy their own desires
- unable to see world from different perspectives than their own
- other human beings are just objects to them, making actions possible
- materialism and status-seeking habits often factors

Nature vs. Nurture
- nature often defined as genetic or hormone-based
- nurture environment or experience
- nature often factor in mental health conditions
- if biological history, more likely to occur
- in addiction nature often more impact than nurture
- environment can often be related to who we become because of the people around us
- emotions we receive can often become the ones we develop as those we share with others

How Surroundings Shape Identity
- each individual experiences certain things that shape themselves
- our unique lives create our personality
- what surrounds us can determine what matters most to us, and sometimes personalities are fabricated around those things
- problems for personality in today's society revolve around the mass of things we must conform to
- many times perspectives are not our own, but those of the people around us

# data[].attributes.body
"Nature vs. Nurture"

Nature: characteristics that are genetically inherited

Nurture: characteristics that are acquired from one's environment

learnings

surroundings

personal experiences

"Nativists"

Believe that one's personality and cognitive abilities are hereditary and predetermined (nature)

Believe each person's unique qualities are a product of their genes

Believe that behavioral, intellectual, and emotional changes shown later in life are a result of individual "maturity," not influence from the environment

Refer to an inner "biological clock"

Believe maturation controls everything

"Environmentalists"/"empiricists"

Believe humans begin as a blank slate but acquire traits as they are exposed to the environment

Believe language = speech imitation, that it isn't pre-wired into an infant's brain

Believe learning environment dictates how someone acts, thinks, and feels

Believe emotional attachment is a result of love and attention, not from natural habits

The argument

Few facts to back up either point of view

It is believed the question is not "Which one?" but "How much of each?"

In fact, many argue that individual percentages vary. For one it may be 40% nature and 60% nurture, but for another it may be vice versa

Nature ideology in history

Nazi Germany and racial purity

Belief that minorities were born inferior to majorities (such as African-Americans to whites)

The Real Meaning of 'Good' and 'Evil'

Categorizing someone as either good or evil is not black and white, almost all fall in a gray area in between. 'Good' people are not purely good, and 'bad' people are not solely evil

'Evil' people can, essentially, be rehabilitated and show 'good' characteristics after time

i.e. benevolence and empathic understanding

History has shown that the 'good' people believe that there are 'evil' others that must be destroyed, resulting in arguments and war

Personal comment: Driving out the 'bad' with no remorse doesn't exactly make them good, does it?

Cruel or 'bad' behavior has often been found to be a result of one's environment, not genetics

Most believe nurture causes 'evil' people to show 'evil' traits

The definition of good

A lack of self-indulgence

Prioritizing others' needs before one's own

Sacrificing one's comforts to protect others'

Showing the ability to form mutual understanding and empathy towards others

Accepting all humans, despite appearance, deficiencies, race, and gender

Examples of 'good' people in history who fit the above criteria

Martin Luther King (Jr.)

Mahatma Gandhi

The definition of evil

Self-centeredness

Prioritizing one's own needs before others'

Cannot empathize or form an understanding with others

Keeping their own comforts is thought of as more important than sacrificing them for others

Cannot accept all humans, instead discriminates against others because their appearance, abilities, race, or gender is different from their own

Examples of 'evil' people in history who fit the above criteria

Adolf Hitler

Joseph Stalin

Serial killers

These, among with Gandhi and King are extremes. Almost all fall somewhere in between these 'angelic' and 'wicked' identities