Nature vs. Nurture Essay Example for Free

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Homosexuality, Addictions and Intelligence There have always been disputes on whether the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual was based on biological or environmental factors. These disputes are known as the Nature vs. Nurture argument. The two sides argue over how gender is chosen within a person. Based on reproductive organs, sex is easily determined at birth: male or female. Gender, however; is the sexual identity an individual takes on. It is possible for sex and gender to be different. For an example of nurture children who were both born with an injured or damaged reproductive organ, males usually can be raised successfully as females. In order to understand which factor is the deciding factor of a person’s gender, both sides of the case must be fully evaluated. DNA studies which appear to prove that gender is a genetic trait. Researchers have analyzed the makeup of the human brain of homosexuals and heterosexuals seeking a connection between gender and the brains physiology. They found when studying the part of the brain directly related to a persons’ sexual drive, that homosexuals had an enlarged hypothalamus, whereas heterosexuals had a normal one indicating a direct correlation between the brain and gender selections (AllPsych). In researching DNA’s role in gender identity, some scientist have identified the gene that determines a person’s sexual preference. Although there are mounting evidence of the existence of a â€Å"gay gene, â€Å"the opposition denies the existence (AllPsych). People in support of the Nurture argument claim that is an individual conscious or subconscious decision as to his or her gender identify. While many claim that people may control their sexual orientation, their brain, and not the other way around are actually controlling them. A person DNA and brain physiology control sexual preference which may be associated in the amygdale of the limbic system (Pscyhsmart). When scientist castrated the rats, stopping the creation of androgen, the male rats became submissive. When the androgen was given to the female rats, they began to display masculine behaviors. This experiment resulted in the male rat being submissive and allowing the female rat to  mount the male, unlike the normal male rat that would mount the female when engaging in reproduction ( Lippa 102). Similar to humans, if male do not have proper balance of hormones with his body, he may show feminine traits. These hormones are a biological aspect of gender that affects the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual. On the other hand, for the purpose of this discussion, addiction can take many forms, including not only substance use disorders, but also pathologic gambling, bulimia, and a host of other disorders. Dependency, abuse, and addiction are used relatively interchangeably; however, there is ongoing debate within the field regarding the best terminology. Furthermore, differences in how these phenotypes are surrounded can have an impact on the results of gene discovery efforts. Genetic loci that have been consistently associated with various forms of substance addiction, as well as those that demonstrate relevance to pharmacologic treatment. While the nature vs. nurture debate has raged, is the contribution of interactions between genetics and environment. In reality, gene expression is environment dependent and it impossible to obtain pure estimates of genetic vs. environmental contribution one could not exist without the other. The environment a child experiences is partly a consequence of the child’s genes as well as external factors. To some extent a person seeks out and creates his or her environment. If she is of a mechanical bent she practices mechanical skills; if a bookworm, she seeks out books. Thus genes may create an appetite rather than an aptitude. Remember that the high heritability of short-sightedness is accounted for not just by the heritability of a gene for short sightedness but by the heritability of literate habits. Conversely, on the discussion of intelligence, there are three facts about the transmission of intelligence that virtually everyone seems to accept: 1. Both heredity and environment contribute to intelligence. 2. Heredity and environment interact in various ways. 3. Extremely poor as well as highly enriched environments can interfere with the realization of a persons intelligence, regardless of the persons heredity (Sternberg Grigorenko, 1997, p.xi). Intelligence that appears to relate to ability to reason abstractly, to learn and to adapt. In closing, homosexuality, addictions and intelligence have reliable  statistical relationships with important social phenomena, but they are a limited tool for deciding what to make of any given individual. As stated by Ridley, Mother Nature has plainly not entrusted our genetic capacities to the blind fate of a gene or genes; she gave us parents, learning, language, culture and education to program ourselves with. WORKS CITED: Johnson, Ryan D. AllPsych (2005). â€Å"Homosexuality: Nature or Nurture†. Ridley, M. (1999). Genome: The autobiography of a species in 23 chapters. London: Fourth Estate Ltd. Sternberg, R. J., Grigorenko, E. (Eds.) (1997). Intelligence, heredity, and environment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Fertility Drugs Essays -- Research Papers Pregnancy Conception Papers

Fertility Drugs Most men and women are raised thinking that eventually they will marry and have children. What happens when a couple gets married and wants to have a child and finds out that after several times of having unprotected sex there is no pregnancy? The finger is usually pointed at the woman but in some cases it can be due to the man. In a woman's case, the problem is usually that she is not ovulating normally and in a man's case he might have low sperm count. These are the problems that are most heard of but there are other factors that can cause infertility. An anxious couple quickly turns to science to try and find a solution to their problem. Although taking fertility drugs is the "solution", it can be quite strenuous for the couple. The couple has to submit to an emotional roller coaster , possible financial hardship, and a love life that sounds more like supply and demand. Some couples get so tied up with conceiving a child that they do not enjoy what they're doing but rather do it o n demand. "Their marriages are sometimes threatened to the point of divorce."(p.16, Carr) "there is a definite relationship between infertility and stability and happiness in marriagemore than one-half of the couples who seek divorce are childless and the majority of infertile couples eventually apply for divorce."(p.16, Carr) When a couple is trying to conceive they will often have feelings of frustration and discouragement. As we see, making the decision of seeking help using fertility drugs requires that both parties be supportive of each other and really work together to achieve their goal. "Between 15 and 25 percent of all couples in the United States are infertile. If you've had unprotected sex for more than 12 months (if... ...rinologist). (www.infertility.about.com) For an application, list of requirements, or basic information about the organization you can visit http://www.fertilityfoundation.org Although this paper is long it does not provide nearly all the information available about infertility. This paper can be seen as tool. There's no doubt in my mind that taking fertility drugs is a very big decision. What I learned from this research is that many eager parents put their own health at risk in order to have a baby. Overall, success depends on each case individually and on the severity of your condition and age. Bibliography About, The Human Internet. http://www.infertility.about.com . (17 May 2001) Baby Center, Cradle and all. http://www.babycenter.com . (17 May 2001) Carr, Delta Genevieve. Fertile and Infertile Marriages. Xerox University Microfilms: USA, 1975.

Conflict Is Growth Essay

When one struggles, they are paying the price to receive beneficial growth in their lives. Conflict will always be around in daily life to challenge our beliefs and behaviors, so it is important to bring emotions and deep feelings out so that issues may have a chance of being resolved. The best thing anybody can do is to deal with it in a positive manner creating growth and maturity, but occasionally one will learn nothing and reject any improvement. Two stories this semester that dealt with this issue directly were Useless Beauty by Guy De Maupassant and Premium Harmony by Stephen King. These tales brought conflict to a great point creating tension but it was the way they were handled that makes both stories standout. In Useless Beauty, the protagonist Madame de Mascaret had a strength that was fighting for deliverance. â€Å"This is what I have to say to you. I am afraid of nothing, whatever you may do to me. You may kill me if you like† (Maupassant 6). â€Å"I am a woman of the civilized world, monsieur–we all are–and we are no longer, and we refuse to be, mere females to restock the earth,†(Maupassant 16). Conflict was an ongoing issue within her marriage; beginning with her husband who was always jealous of her flawless beauty and constrained her from society by impregnating her repeatedly over a period of eleven years. Forced into marriage for money and not truly in a love relationship with Comte de Mascaret, Madame struck back with revenge â€Å"One of your children is not yours, and one only; that I swear to you before God, who hears me here. That was the only revenge that was possible for me in return for all your abominable masculine tyrannies, in return for the penal servitude of childbearing to which you have condemned me† (Maupassant 6). Leaving Comte to dwell on this thought and not know which child was not his, he finally came to express his true feelings towards Madame admitting his jealousy and the way her confession has troubled his relationship with the children. The resolution for the story is quite interesting, although Comte never found out which child wasn’t his, the two together were able to come to a medium and recognize how each other felt and begin a friendship throughout the hurt and pain that was finally based on truth and respect for the both of them. I admired the fact that something of this capacity could help someone understand the beauty of a woman and her place in society. In Premium Harmony, Stephen King wrote about a marriage that is still realistic in today’s society. It captured a close look of a man name Ray, the protagonist, disconnected from a life it seems he never wanted to be in from the start. Ray and his wife Mary Burkett are extremely in conflict within their marriage and failing at it rapidly. They both argue and lie about many things that shouldn’t even be an issue and without any passion behind it. It’s really all the same argument. It has circularity† (King 1). I believe conflict sets the whole mood for the story itself. After they found out that they couldn’t have kids Ray bought Mary a dog, and this is where is seems the disagreements arise. Ray compares their arguing to â€Å"a dog track† and that â€Å"When they argue, they’re like greyhounds chasing the mechanical rabbit† (King 1). Ray shows a jealousy towards Biznezz, the dog, and this could be for different reasons but I believe the main reason is that his relationship with Mary is deteriorating and increasing with the dog. The word â€Å"Love is used only when in reference to the dog and not even after Ray attends to Mary’s body does he speak the simple four letter word. The resolution for this story was not ordinary. To escape the negative impact of the marriage, I believe depression killed Mary and Ray saw this as a relief from the arguments with his wife. Stephen King mentions two distinct items in this short story, a pack of smokes â€Å"Premium Harmonies† and Mary’s â€Å"Little Debbie’s† they are pretty much opposites and this is comparable to their relationship. It’s not until the end, once the dog dies, that Ray’s numbness takes a turn and he shows any kind of emotion â€Å"You’re with her now, Biz,† he says again through his tears. His voice is clogged and thick† (King 9). â€Å"Poor old Mary, poor old Biz. Damn it all! † (King 10) This definitely leaves unbelievable and amusing emotions that make you wonder did Ray want to be unbothered all along? Confrontation: Reading these two stories made me realize exactly what I don’t want my marriage to become. In any relationship, how you resolve conflict is what matters most. With today’s society, people question love and what they want in a mate. It is more complex and the earlier roles by women and men are no longer defined. The women’s movement has improved may factors, but we still must understand the consideration of each other and our families. This new evolution of marriage has made the basis only to fulfilling emotional and psychological needs other than aspects that love was built on. We truly must not forget the meaning behind love and matrimony.

The Veil And Salvation By Mary Satrapi And Langston Hughes...

Religion is what you believe, what you have faith in. Many people considered it taboo; it is hard to express oneself on the subject. Authors such as Majarne Satrapi and Langston Hughes adventure themselves on this topic by writing respectively â€Å"The Veil† and â€Å"Salvation†. Both texts illustrate the control of religion by humans for their own benefit. By using a claim of solution, the authors demonstrate that one should find his own path to God. Even though they both share the same idea they approach it differently; one through politics and the other through society. Through this essay both approaches will be shown. Parents are the world of their children. When one is young the only adults he knows are his parents and teachers. He is bond to believe every single word they say. At school when the teacher say one plus one equal two, he will not doubt his words. She is the teacher, so she is telling the truth. It goes the same at home. They respect their parents not because they share the same blood but because they are the only one they know and trust. They listen to adults, they believe in their wisdom. However believing in adults’ words do not necessary mean that they understand. The language sounds the same but it is different like homonyms. When Hughes’s aunt said that â€Å"When you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And Jesus came into your life! And God was with you from now on!† (Hughes549) ; he believed her. He was ready to see the light and