Nature Vs. Nurture: The Modern Field of Essay

Nature vs. Nurture:

The modern field of psychology has been characterized by various significant questions including the concern regarding nature vs. nurture. This concern can also be described as the determination of the extent with which biology influences an individual's psychology as compared to cultural constructs or factors. Based on his analysis, Herdt (2004) presents an evaluation of Freudian and development psychology in which he explains the progression of adolescent development through a more culturally-informed means. To support his claims, article states that traditional theories of adolescent development have focused on the person and the formation of adult self on the basis that it existed outside of culture as presented in Freudian and biological discussions of psychology. The article consists of several important points including the following

Isolation of Adolescent Development from the Community:

According to historical analyses on sexuality, policies have constantly focused on the individual not culture to the extent that it seems people lived outside of space and time. As a result of this isolation, the fields of developmental psychology and psychoanalysis have reduced sexuality to mere internal drives and as symbols of successful morbidity, biological fitness, and personal or moral weakness. Consequently, the author focuses on analyzing the profound impact of social oppression on an individual's adolescent development.

Role of Sexuality in Development of Personality Development:

Following the exploration of social oppression, Herdt (2004) examines the role of sexuality in the development of the human personality.In this case, Freudian discourses of psychology emphasized on sexuality as the only factor that shapes the development of human personality, a theory that was refuted by various psychologists and theories. The view of sexuality as the only shaping force for human personality development as presented by Freud was not only controversial but it was also substituted by the biological theories of development.

These theories in turn focused on efforts to present all-inclusive descriptions of the reason and the process for the development of the human brain.

Psychological and Psychoanalytic Conceptions of Development:

One of the major reasons for Freud's perspective on the role of sexuality on human personality development is attributed to his failure to engage in cross-cultural comparison of sexuality, sex, and gender. This has contributed to the reason why anthropological sexuality theories have failed to primary shift from critical psychological and psychoanalytic conceptions of development. Consequently, these theories of sexuality emphasized on sex as a person's biological need or an essential factor for reproduction. Unlike the psychoanalytical perspective, the anthropological perspective regarded heterosexual development as equal to marriage with extramarital affairs as issues of personality adjustments and personal….....