ipl-logo

Steven Pinker The Blank Slate Summary

506 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Nature vs nurture sigmund freud

The blank slate is one of the most polemic topics concerning the human mind. It is a theory that implies that at birth the human mind is unaltered and it gains knowledge through experiences and social interactions. The purpose of Steven Pinker’s panel discussion is to discuss the reasons of why he refutes the theory of the blank slate. His ideas are far more inclined towards nature rather than nurture. This is an argument that challenges whether human developed behavior is determined by environmental experiences also known as nurture or from one’s genetic DNA referred to nature. Pinker uses the argument of nurture and nature within the study of twins and unrelated siblings in order to disprove the Blank slate theory. Pinker’s discusses the relationships between siblings, …show more content…

The MRIs shows to have a “massive correlation in the distribution of grey matter” as described by Pinker in identical twins compared to the other individuals(Pinker). He uses this information to imply that the similarities in personality and behavior are encrypted in the DNA and not determined by environmental influences. The psychologist Pinker incorporates a quote from a parent concerned about their child’s development. He quotes her, “ Im supposed to do lots of physical activity with my kids so I can instill in them a physical fitness habit… I’m supposed to do all kinds of intellectual play so they'll grow up smart”(Pinker). This parent is assured that her actions will create an impact in her children's lives. It is evident that not everyone disagrees with the blank slate theory and inclines towards nurture to help develop better habits for their children. Playing educational games and encouraging physical activity is an environmental influence to increase productivity in a child according to this parent. However, Pinker contradicts this idea as he says, “Genetically controlled studies find siblings separated at birth end up as similar as siblings reared together… anything that

Show More
Related

The Other Wes Moores Upbringing Differences

478 Words | 2 Pages

In the afterword the author talks about some of the speculations people have as to why Wes 1 and Wes 2 ended up so different. Naturally, the question of genetics and nature always comes up as an explanation for the defining difference between the two Wes Moores. On the other hand, certain points in the nature/upbringing of the two Wes Moores, such as Wes 2’s parents neglecting birth control, were speculated as the defining reason for the outcomes of the two Wes Moores. The author emphasizes that all these factors are actually woven together (Moore, 183). Similarly, the concepts of nature and nurture are closely meshed in the field of psychology (Textbook, 73).

Read More

Far From The Tree Quotes

432 Words | 2 Pages

it’s ok, we’re not angry.’” (Benway 355). My topic of inquiry relates the effects of both genetics and upbringing on childhood development. This quote shows the correlation that parenting styles do affect how a child's personality develops, and genetics are not the only factor in personality development.

Read More

Nicholas Carr The Shallows Summary

1006 Words | 5 Pages

Carr noticed that theories have stated that human’s brains stop adapting at a certain point (31). The brain is not trapped; it never stops adapting to new experiences. This scientific notion is important to Carr’s philosophy because our brains are constantly changing. Using neuroplasticity as an example gives him the opportunity to show that life is about having a deep effect, not on our brains, but the way we think. Carr adds, “neuroplasticity provides an escape from genetic determinism, a loophole for free thought and free will, it also imposes its own form of determinism on our behavior.

Read More

Human Development In John Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany

1932 Words | 8 Pages

Does environment shape moral and psychological traits? Are humans born inherently with pre-determined qualities and ways of thought? The debate of nature versus nurture, whether humans are born with a set of moral traits or whether one’s environment influences and shapes their traits, has constantly been argued, not only from a psychological standpoint, but also from a literary perspective as well. In A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving explores the relationship between environment and the development of psychological traits and personal conceptions, using both animate objects, like voice and people, and inanimate objects, such as armless objects and family influences, to prove the often powerful, yet overlooked influence of environment on human development; in the

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Matt Ridley's Free Will

998 Words | 4 Pages

Ridley talks about facts and uses logic in regard of divorce rates in twins and criminal records of adoptees in Denmark. Closely observing that divorce rates in twins are partly supported by genetic variation and partly by non-shared environmental factors, it was concluded that, “You are no more likely to divorce if reared in a broken home than the average.” This shows that non-shared environment-- home and parents-- do not affect the person’s choices, characters or personalities but it is rather the environment consisting of peers along with genes that play a role. Similarly adoptees that have a criminal record usually diminish once adopted in a neighbourhood and going to school with non-criminal backgrounds and good morals even if biological and adopting parents have a criminal background. These two examples show strong reasons to support Ridley’s

Read More

Child Temperament Chapter Summary

804 Words | 4 Pages

Dr. Rettew connects to class discussions and readings on shared and unshared environmental influences, evocative gene environment correlation, temperament, and the goodness-of-fit. Twins that with unshared environmental influences, such as different placentas, could adapt different temperaments (Berk, 2009). Also, twins that have been adopted into separate families could have different personality traits because they lived in completely different environments their whole life, even if they shared environmental influences of the same placenta (Berk, 2009). With an evocative gene environment correlation, a child’s genotype could draw in a certain type of environment, such as babies who appear more attractive will receive more attention (Berk, 2009). The type of attention a child gets could affect its temperament.

Read More

Contrast The Trait Approach With The Biological Aspects Of Personality

1576 Words | 7 Pages

These two systems can be directly linked to the personality map developed by Eysenck, thus adding to the vast spectrum of personality traits. Nonetheless the intertwining of the Trait Approach and the Biological has moved the research of personality in to more exciting and new directions, technical advances have allowed more in-depth research into twin studies. For instance Peter Borkenau et al (2006) experimented on 168 identical and 132 fraternal

Read More

Is Elijah A Hero Or A Villain

1505 Words | 7 Pages

Meaning that regardless of the environment we are born into or the circumstances of our upbringing we are each born with specific ideas or philosophies that we will hold true throughout our life. For example, thoughts of racial superiority would not be a learned trait but rather thoughts that you were born with; one does not become a racist through their environment, rather they are born that way. The British philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, on the other hand, underlined the role of experience as being the source of behavioral development. Locke held that the human mind at birth is a complete, but receptive blank slate upon which experience imprints

Read More

Innate Morality

1507 Words | 7 Pages

Thus, following this theory, questions of morality can only be acquired through social learning. However, in Pinker’s opposition to this idea, he insists that together with the Noble Savage and Ghost in the Machine theories, the Blank Slate theory expresses a denial of human nature that is inspired by political considerations drawn from fears of inequality, imperfectability, determinism, and nihilism (Pinker, 137-194). Therefore, his biological and genetic-based assumptions have a connection to politics by challenging the typical liberal notions of equality and social justice. It is essential to note, however, that Pinker does not attribute human behavioral outcomes to genetics exclusively. He points out early in the book's preface that it will not be one of those that "says everything is genetic" (Pinker, viii).

Read More

The Blank Slate Chapter 3 Analysis

1353 Words | 6 Pages

Pinker believes socialization plays a role into behavior. He believes that it is peer groups who affected children more so than their families in regards to values and skills. However, he does not think that peers are why a certain child develops their personality. All this to say, children are not blank slates. Children are a product of behavioral genetics and a product of their unique environments.

Read More

Dinning Table

214 Words | 1 Pages

I totally agree with the author, children born as a white board and their parents shape their culture, language, beliefs, and lifestyle. For example, my sisters and their children, I have two married sisters who live in Saudi Arabia. Each of them has different personality and values. According to that their children have shaped differently, one sister’s children are very quiet, polite, and shy. They like to do everything in a perfect way.

Read More

Born Evil In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1000 Words | 4 Pages

They are born like a blank slate, bound to be shaped by society. People believe others are either born to be corrupted or born to be kind. In this essay, to prove that people are born as a blank state and not either one of those we will show some examples from the story Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. People are born innocent and naive to what 's going on in the world around them. Babies are born innocent with no evil in there small bodies, they can 't even comprehend what evil is.

Read More

Opposing Views On The Study Of Learning And Memory

1006 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout history, the study of learning and memory has presented varied perspectives on how the mind develops. History has shown numerous conflicting standpoints when addressing and researching the way in which people acquire information and use it. The debate between nature and nurture dates back to the fourth century BC, when Aristotle and Plato presented their respective arguments in the philosophical battles that dominated society at the time. Aristotle, who is considered the founder of empiricism, believed in the idea that knowledge is learned solely from experience, while Plato, the founder of nativism, believed that human knowledge is inborn. These two philosophers would set the stage for the nativist and empiricist schools of thought,

Read More

John B. Watson's Theory Of Behaviorism

1558 Words | 7 Pages

According to his theory, individuals are born without built-in knowledge. Everybody learns through experience, perception and parental guidance. One answer to providing more effective circumstances to children could be a much more self-critical, reflective and differentiated strategies of instruction developed through meaningful observations, noticing and recognizing what is important, influencing and significant to the child and about the child, and reacting in a supportive way. This kind of healthy interaction between individual child’s genes and the environmental context in which they develop would mean a good initial start. Moreover, chances of positive pathways in life seem to be enhanced by heredity vulnerabilities and complex behaviors.

Read More

Biological Cognitive Development

1182 Words | 5 Pages

One of the “three most important issues” in psychological development is nature and nurture. This issue involves the extent to which development is influenced by nature and by nurture. Nature refers to biology, where as nurture refers to environmental experiences. I grew up with my dad being in the military, which meant that respect and order were a constant in our house. I attended one of

Read More

More about Steven Pinker The Blank Slate Summary

Related Topics

Open Document