Basic Psychology Assignment

Case Studies on Developmental Issues

Bharath Selvam (PGD Neuropsychology)

Developmental Issues
Nature Versus Nurture
Nature: The "nature" side argue that our characteristics, such as personality, intelligence, and
susceptibility to certain health conditions, are largely inherited from our parents. Genetic
predispositions, determined by our DNA, set the foundation for these traits. It says that
behaviour are certain innate traits and biologically programmed
Nurture: The "nurture" perspective emphasizes the role of the environmental factors like
upbringing, culture, education, and personal experiences. According to this view, our
environment shapes how we behave, think, and develop over time. People are viewed to be
shaped by their experiences, through the process of learning and adaptation, from early

childhood through adulthood.

The Debate: Nature vs Nurture

At the heart of the nature vs nurture debate lies the question of which is more influential in
shaping an individual throughout their developmental processes. "Nature" suggests that traits
like intelligence, personality, and mental health are largely determined by one’s genetic makeup.
For instance, twin studies have shown that identical twins, even when raised apart, often exhibit
striking similarities in behavior, suggesting a strong genetic influence.
On the other hand, "nurture" argue that environmental factors play a crucial role in determining
personality, preferences, and abilities. For example, children who grow up in nurturing,
supportive environments are more likely to thrive emotionally and cognitively, while those in
deprived or abusive settings may face developmental challenges.
In reality, nature and nurture are not mutually exclusive but rather interact in complex ways.
Both genetic factors and environmental influences contribute to an individual’s development.
For example, a child may be genetically predisposed to a certain trait, such as a talent for music,
but it is the nurturing environment that provides the exposure, training, and encouragement to
develop this talent. Similarly, environmental factors can interact with genetic predispositions, as
seen in conditions like mental health disorders, where genetics may make an individual more
vulnerable to conditions, and life experiences such as stress or trauma may trigger it onset.
Impact on Development:
- Physical Development: Genetics influence physical traits like height, eye color, and
susceptibility to diseases, but environmental factors like diet and exercise also affect
physical growth and health.
- Cognitive Development: Intelligence may have a genetic basis, but it can be enhanced or
limited by access to education, social interactions, and opportunities for learning.
- Personality and Behavior: Traits like temperament and mood can be influenced by both
inborn tendencies and life experiences, such as how a person is raised, their friendships,
and their challenges in life.

Stability Versus Change

Stability: In development, it suggests that certain traits, such as temperament and personality,
remain consistent over time. This view emphasizes that early life experiences or genetic
predispositions create a stable foundation that influences an individual's behavior and
characteristics throughout their life, with little change occurring in these core traits.
Change: It emphasizes the potential for significant growth and transformation over time. This
perspective suggests that life experiences, such as relationships, challenges, and new
environments, can lead to changes in behavior, personality, and abilities. It believes people to
be capable of evolving throughout their lifespan.
Interaction of Stability and Change:
Issues of stability vs change theories of development in psychology address whether a person's
attributes remain the same or change as we age. Stability vs change theories of development
suggests either closed systems (stabilization occurs early and persists through life), open
systems (major attributes are potentially changeable throughout life), or a combination of both.
Many developmental theorists agree that both stability and change occur throughout life, with
some traits remaining stable (e.g., temperament or emotional reactivity) while others are more
susceptible to change (e.g., intelligence or social skills).
Certain or sensitive periods in life, such as early childhood or adolescence, are thought to be
particularly influential in shaping one's development, supporting the view of stability. But, later
experiences and choices can also lead to changes in areas like career development,
relationships, and mental health, supporting the side of change.
Impact on Development:
- Cognitive and Social Development: Some aspects of cognitive development, such as
memory and problem-solving skills, may show both stability and change. For instance,
an individual might retain the same level of cognitive ability throughout life but they
could also acquire new skills or knowledge through education and life experiences.
- Emotional and Personality Development: Emotional stability, like attachment patterns,
may remain relatively consistent, but personality traits and behavior can evolve in
response to life events, relationships, and personal growth.
- Identity and Self-Concept: A person’s sense of identity might change significantly over
time. For instance, adolescence and early adulthood are periods of identity exploration,
and an individual’s self-concept may undergo considerable change, influenced by
experiences and personal choices.

Continuity Versus Discontinuity

Continuity: the “Continuity” side in development suggests that development is a gradual,
cumulative process where individuals build upon their previous experiences and abilities. This
perspective emphasizes that changes in behavior and traits occur smoothly over time, without
distinct stages. For example, a child's language skills might develop gradually as they acquire
vocabulary and grammar through continued exposure to communication, leading to more
sophisticated language abilities in adulthood.
Discontinuity: The “Discontinuity” side proposes that development occurs in distinct stages or
steps, with individuals undergoing significant, qualitative changes at specific points in life. This
view suggests that behaviors and traits do not develop in a linear fashion but instead shift
suddenly or in leaps. For example, a child might go through a sudden growth spurt in cognitive
abilities or emotional development, leading to a dramatic shift in how they think or behave
during adolescence.

Interaction of Continuity and Discontinuity:

Many developmental theorists believe that both continuity and discontinuity occur in
development, depending on the aspect of development being considered. While some aspects
of development, such as physical growth or language acquisition, may follow a continuous path,
other aspects, such as cognitive abilities or moral reasoning, may involve discontinuous stages.
Therefore, the common developmental theories, which predominantly focuses on the cognitive
aspects of the individual’s development, tend to be based on the theme of “Discontinuity”.
Impact on Development:
- Cognitive and Social Development: Cognitive development may involve both continuous
and discontinuous changes. For instance, the gradual increase in knowledge and skills
may be seen as continuous, while the shift from concrete to abstract thinking (e.g.,
Piaget’s transition to formal operations) is viewed as a discontinuous stage.
- Emotional and Personality Development: Emotional growth might involve gradual
changes (continuity), such as learning better emotional regulation, but major life events,
such as adolescence or significant relationships, could trigger more discontinuous shifts
in personality and self-concept.
- Moral Development: The development of moral reasoning can be seen as
discontinuous, with individuals progressing through distinct stages of moral
understanding, as seen in Kohlberg's stages of moral development, which suggests
qualitative changes in how people reason about ethical issues.

Cases Shredding Lights on Developmental Issues

Oskar Stohr and Jack Yufe
Twin’s Background
Jack Yufe and Oskar Stohr were identical twins who were separated from each other as babies,
when their parents divorced. Yule stayed in Port de Spain with his father and Stöhr went to live
with his mother in Eastern Europe, who remarried to a Neo‐Nazi sympathizer. The twins were
raised apart and first met as adults in 1954 at age 21.
Yufe was raised as a Jew, joined an Israeli kibbutz at age 17, and later served in Israel's navy.
Stöhr was brought up as Catholic in Germany by his gentile grandmother and later became
involved in the Hitler Youth Movement.
Twins’ Similarities and Differences
One other important thing about their difference were, they were reared predominantly by a
woman or a man. Even with the theories relating traits and personalities to being raised by
female or male, the twins both excelled at sports and had difficulty with math. And Yufe, raised
by his father, has more sympathy toward feminism, where as his brother feels, that he is
“domineered” by women. These features were against those typical theories, in Yufe and
Stöhr’s case.
Despite being raised in a totally varying environment, they still displayed same surprising
similarities:
 One their first meeting as adult at age 21, they had the same neat mustaches, receding
hairlines, wire-rimmed glasses and matching, light-colored sports jackets.
 Similar fidgeting habits with rubber bands, pads, and paper clips, when nervous
 Both had explosively loud sneeze.
 They tend to fall asleep after eating.
 They have similar gaits and ways of sitting in chairs.
 they like spicy foods and sweet liqueurs
 An unusual habit of flushing the toilet both before and after using it.
 During the interviews, they ask similar questions
 They exhibited the same hot temper and competitive nature.
 Both are absent-minded.
 They share similar tempers and rates of speech.
 Both excelled at sports and had difficulty with math.
Nature vs Nurture
Yufe and Stöhr is a great case to study the nature vs nurture debate, they are identical twins
who were reared apart. Making their genetic component to be 100% similar, and with different
environmental factors. And the unique advantage is this case is that, there is a great difference
in their background. “Their differences are overwhelming: different religions, different
languages, different qualities of child rearing”, said Bouchard, director of the Minnesota Study
of Twins Reared Apart Project.
The case of Jack Yufe and Oskar Stohr provides a solid context to explore the interplay of nature
and nurture. Despite being raised in highly vastly different environments—Jack in a Jewish
household in Trinidad and later Israel, and Oskar in a Catholic home in Germany under Nazi
influences—the twins exhibited remarkable similarities. Their shared behaviors, such as
fidgeting with objects, flushing toilets before and after use, and their temperaments, highlight
the significant role of genetics (nature) in shaping personality and habits. These traits persisted
despite their contrasting cultural and familial upbringings.
One of the identifiable factors from this case is that, the twin didn’t just share traits for
temperaments, but also their unique, unusual or idiosyncrasy behavioral traits. This suggests
that behaviour traits of an individual could also have an impact from their genetics, apart from
their learnings from environment.
On the other hand, the influence of nurture is evident in their ideological and social differences.
Oskar’s upbringing in a Nazi-influenced environment shaped his worldview and behaviors,
including joining the Hitler Youth movement, while Jack’s Jewish upbringing and service in the
Israeli navy. They also expressed different attitude toward gender roles, with Jack showing more
sympathy toward feminism, while Oskar felt like being "domineered" by women. This shows
that nurture has its own share of major contribution in building the individual’s values, ideas,
thoughts and perspectives.

Case of Eddy Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran

Triplets’ Background
Eddy Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran were identical triplets born in 1961 in Long
Island, New York. Separated shortly after birth by Louise Wise Adoption Agency, they were each
placed in different families of varying socioeconomic status as part of a secretive study led by Dr.
Peter B. Neubauer and Viola W. Bernard, which sought to explore the effects of nature versus
nurture. None of the adoptive parents were informed that the boys had biological siblings, nor
were they given the option to adopt them together.
- Edward Galland: Raised in a middle-class family, Edward experienced significant conflict
with his adoptive father, leading to strained relationships and emotional struggles.
- David Kellman: Grew up in a working-class family with warm parental bonds and a
supportive environment.
- Robert Shafran: Raised in an upper-middle-class family, Robert had a stable but
somewhat distant relationship with his adoptive father.
Triplets’ Similarities and Differences
The brothers exhibited striking physical and behavioral similarities despite their separate
upbringings. They had common tastes in cigarettes, sports, and humor, food and they shared
similar mannerisms and speaking styles.
However, differences in family dynamics profoundly influenced the triplets’ emotional
resilience. As they matured, their distinct abilities to cope with life’s challenges became
apparent. Eddy, in particular, struggled with mental health issues, experiencing erratic behavior
and manic-depressive episodes that ultimately led to his tragic suicide at the age of 33. Where,
David was more emotionally stable and pragmatic and Robert was adaptable but also
experienced stress under familial and social pressures. So, the triplets’ coping mechanisms
revealed the critical role of their distinct home environments.
The triplets also expressed variation in their educational performance. Eddy was
academically weaker, which some attributed to his family’s stricter expectations. David had
moderate academic success. Robert excelled academically and went on to attend college.

Nature vs. Nurture

The story of Eddy, David, and Robert provides a stark lens through which to examine the
ongoing debate of nature versus nurture. On one hand, their shared genetic makeup
underscored the powerful role of nature. They displayed similar personality traits, mannerisms,
and interests despite growing up in disparate environments. Yet, the devastating consequences
of their separation highlighted the critical importance of nurture.
While nature gave them shared predispositions, nurture shaped how each triplet responded to
challenges. David’s stable upbringing gave him a foundation to cope, whereas Eddy’s troubled
relationship with his father left him more vulnerable to life’s pressures. This shows how the
person’s environment also play a vital role to creating a effective pursuit of life, and
unsupportive environmental factors could even lead to increasing to likelihood to develop
mental disorders.
As teenagers, the triplets shared striking similarities in mannerisms, tastes, and friendships,
forming a strong bond that even led them to pursue joint ventures, such as opening a restaurant
together. However, as they aged, emerging differences began to strain their connection under
the weight of personal and relational challenges. Edward faced significant struggles with mental
health, compounded by conflicts with his adoptive father and the traumatic revelations about
their separation. Robert stepped away from public life and his work as a lawyer, following a
motorcycle accident, choosing a quieter existence in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, David continued his
career in insurance and maintained some level of public engagement with Robert, despite the
strain on their relationship. Over time, the effects of their unique environments and familial
support systems, became increasingly evident, highlighting the growing role of nurture in
shaping their diverging life trajectories with aging.
The Missing Ethicality
This study of separated triplets was profoundly unethical, as it intentionally severed sibling
bonds without their consent to observe the effects of different upbringings. The adoptive
families were misled about the existence of the study, while the triplets themselves were left to
uncover the truth decades later, causing immense emotional and psychological harm. Exploiting
innocent children for secretive experimentation violated basic ethical principles, prioritizing
scientific curiosity over human well-being.
The Genain quadruplets: Nora, Iris, Myra, and Hester
Quadruplets’ Background
The Genain quadruplets – Nora, Iris, Myra, and Hester – were born in 1930 in the United States
to a mother of Finnish descent, who was believed to have been a carrier of a genetic
predisposition for schizophrenia. Their case was initially intended to provide insight into the
genetic origins of schizophrenia, as all four sisters were diagnosed with the disorder in their
early twenties. However, the sisters' lives were marked by extreme abuse and trauma, much of
it inflicted by their father, Henry, who was abusive both physically and emotionally.
Their early years were characterized by severe neglect and violent treatment. Henry's abusive
behavior included physical punishment, sexual assault, and emotional manipulation, including
threats of murder. This behavior extended throughout their childhoods, leaving them isolated,
fearful, and socially withdrawn. The family’s poor living conditions and Henry's alcoholism
further exacerbated the trauma. Their mother, Gertrude, was unable to protect them from their
father's abuse, and the girls grew up in a household filled with fear and dysfunction.
Quadruplets’ Similarities and Differences
As identical quadruplets, the girls were genetically identical. All four developed the disorder, but
their symptoms and the age of onset varied.
The variation in the manifestation of disorder in each:
- Nora: She exhibited one of the most severe forms of schizophrenia, with frequent
breakdowns and significant delusions and hallucinations.
- Iris: While she showed signs of the disorder, her symptoms were less pronounced and
more episodic.
- Myra: Myra led a relatively more normal life compared to her sisters. She was the only
one to receive a higher education and have a career. She also married and had children,
although her life was not free from struggles.
- Hester: Hester’s schizophrenia was severe, and she was the primary target of her
father’s abuse, including sexual abuse and cruel punishments. This trauma likely
exacerbated her mental health issues.
Nature vs. Nurture
In this case, the manifestation of the disorder has significant influence from both the nature and
nurture aspects of their life. As identical quadruplets, the sisters were genetically identical, and
all four developed schizophrenia, which initially appeared to support the idea of a strong
genetic component to the disorder. However, the genetic predisposition alone cannot explain
the wide variation in the severity of their symptoms. While the genetic similarities pointed to a
hereditary factor, the drastic differences in how the disorder manifested among them
highlighted the importance of environmental factors.
The horrific abuse and neglect that the sisters endured during their childhood had a profound
impact on their psychological development. Evidence of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
throughout their early years suggests that environmental stressors played a pivotal role in
triggering and exacerbating their mental health issues.
Research has since shown that childhood trauma, such as physical and sexual abuse, is a
significant risk factor for developing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The sisters’ case
is a tragic illustration of how early adverse experiences can have lasting, sometimes devastating,
effects on mental health.
One of the major nonshared environmental factor is the different ways the girls had been
treated by their abusive father. Even though Henry inflicted abusive treatment between the
sisters, there was a variation in their way of treatment and the extent of it. Myra’s relative
stability in adulthood, despite her schizophrenia, suggests that she may have been better able
to cope with the trauma she endured compared to her sisters.

Personal Stand on The Debate

It is not valid to form generalizations from a single case or a number of cases. The necessity to
analyze a much larger sample is important to form a more valid and reliable generalization
about the nature versus nurture debate. But what these case studies give is a good idea of how
the interplay of nature and nurture manifests in twins. From all three cases, it has been seen
that nature and nurture have their own significant influences on the individual’s personality,
traits, behavior, interests, and susceptibility to disorders.
Nature acts as the building block in influencing an individual’s development. The genetic codes
dictate the specific expression of features in individuals. Like how temperament, habits, and
interests are mostly similar with twins, expressing an impact of genetics. Whereas they also
differ in terms of career pursuits, coping mechanisms, academic performance with changes in
the socioeconomic background and family relations, and the ideas and perspectives of the
individual. These are more influenced by environmental factors, which play their role. This
shows how both factors have their own contributions.
When we say a trait is more influenced by genes, it also subsequently means that the
environment also has an impact on that trait, except it is comparatively less in relation to the
influence of genes. So it is to say that every trait has its influence from both genes and
environment, and what the nature versus nurture debate tries to find is the predominant
influencer. When we speak about the environmental factors affecting the individual, we are also
including the environment which the child might have had during their prenatal development.
And when it comes to twins, the major availability of nutrition in the womb may vary, and there
are always mild variations in the development of the kids' anatomy and their brains. So, when a
twin is said to have 100% similar genes, that doesn’t mean they are exactly the same in terms of
their anatomy, even as newborn babies, even though identical twins are the subjects with the
most similarity seen between individuals. This variation also accounts for the differences
manifested in twins. This complexity of humans makes it always difficult to clearly distinguish
between the influences of nature and nurture. But what is certain is that they both have their
unique and essential roles in making the individual who they are.