Name: __________________________________ Date/Time: November 13, 2020 1:00-2:00 am CPE 100
The Child and Adolescent Learners
Subject: Reflection: Issues of Human Development
1. Nature vs. Nurture – Which has a more significant influence on human development?
Nature or nurture?
Nature and nurture both plays an important role in the human development. They both work on the progress of
a human. They both affect behavior and personalities. Nature is the influence of our inherited genes or simply the
heredity from our parents. For example our eye color, hair texture, height, blood group, and even the likelihood
of developing physical and mental health disorders that runs in the family can be inherited. Nature is associated
with the genetics. While talking about nurture it's something that we gain from our society. Nurture is simply the
environment. The environment includes on how we were raised, how we interact with other human beings, how
the environment influenced our growth and development and how we connect and expose ourselves to external
factors. . For example, our accent in speaking Tagalog. Since we are here in the Mindanao and we don't use
Tagalog on a daily basis, that’s why we quite have our own unique way in speaking Tagalog. So it's the
manifestation of the influence of the environment. Another example is our perceptions and views in life. With our
constant involvement with other individuals in the society, our thoughts are molded and shape by them. We
learn, we interpret, we reflect, and relate base from what we experienced. Now, talking about which of the two
factors has more significant influence on human development, I believe that nurture gives more credit and
impact to the human development. Though nature associates with one's physical attributes and characteristics
and capacities, but it's the nurture aspect for me that nourishes the growth and empowerment of those
potentials and values. Because of our exposures and experiences and learnings in the society, we develop and we
go further with our capabilities. We adapt various concepts and understandings that makes us enlightened and
intelligent individuals. But still it depends on a certain person's motivation and efforts in widening his/her field of
view. I believe that nurture has more significant influence, since I’ve experienced situations which has driven me
to view nurture as more influential. Even though I am a Maranao, but since I was born and raised in a Christian
community, I don’t speak the language of Maranao’s fluently. But I’m continuously improving as I am encouraging
myself to be well spoken with the language. I grew up surrounded with people who spoke Bisaya. Another
situation that I have to support my view is that, for example even if a child is born without the artistic skills or
music talent, he/she can still develop and shine in this field. Through the engagement in such training and
advance classes, a child can achieve what he/she aspires to become if he/she is determined and motivated. In
addition to that, for example an identical twins born in the same place but was raised in different environment.
Nina, one of the twins was adapted by wealthy family. She was able to attend school and graduate. She grew up
as a health and beautiful young lady. She knows how to impress and dress herself and is advance with language
education. Now, she is a professional teacher. Nina’s twin, Jessica on the other hand remained along her single
mother and lived in a squatter area. Because of poverty, she was not able to attain education and grew up selling
fish in the market. She wasn’t advance in any field, but was good at socializing with other people. She doesn’t
know how to dress properly unlike her twin. In this case, this reflects on how our environment influence our
course development and how our individuality emerges. Moreover, nurture impacts more significantly on our
growth. We are more of who we are base on the identity given to us. But, we likely progress and improve
because of environmental influences, on how we were cultivated by the people around us. External factors are
likely to play a bigger part in developing the personality of an individual, than the genes one inherits from
parents. But still our choices can make differences on how we develop as human beings. If we work hard to be
outstanding individual in the society, utilize our potentials, and go further with our capabilities, we can greatly
develop and grow as a person.