Humanity at Birth

The on-going discussion of the role of Nature vs Nurture has been a developing phenomenon over the past centuary. While we have accepted Darwins idea of evolution, humanities animalistic insitict are put in question wheather it is a direct result of our enviorment, or consequesnses of our genetic pool. There are two cases that I as a psychology major always question when discussing any disorder. One is the social economic status of the child or individual. The second is if there is any hisotry of that disorder in the family. While psychologist and sociologist feel that we need to differenciate both, I personally feel we must accept both as a unitarina concept that influence our behavior and interpersonal connections.

Harry Harlow view the concept of love as an Nurture concept influence by the enviorment. His famous expereiment of "Harlows Monkey" clearnly demestrated the concept that if a baby monkey is kept from their mother or any physical contact they will seek out the feeling of warmth before he seeks out its biological need. The strong idea has been used for many years and it questions if we care more for human connection than we do for biological needs. In fact it is true, there can be serious reprocussion if there isn't that human connection with othere individuals. Isolation can lead to serious developmental damages as a child. Does that mean that we only care for the connection to our evniorment, no.

There are also some instinctive per-wired concepts that we also need to take into consideration. As baby about from the routing test after birth, there are also some basic reflexes that nurses look for making sure the baby is mentally healthy. There is speculation as to where these instincts in baby come from including the notion that it has been passed down through evolution. The Moro reflex, the frontal parachute, the Palmer grasp are a few. Each of these is a milestone in a child's development process that is yet to explain how they have obtain the ability of some basic reflexes before being exposed to their environment. 

The reason both these concepts seem fascinating to me is because of where I am currently interning. In the Department of Child and Family Services there are many cases to which I question if it is a result of a lack of nurture or simply the environment they are put in. Everyday I must question weather their low socioeconomic status or simply the result of bad genetics that makes a child predisposed to certain disabilities. Over my time as an intern i still question, but many times it is simply the result of both Nature and Nurture.

Harlow's Monkey :
http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/p/harlow_love.htm

Baby Milestones:
http://www.baby-medical-questions-and-answers.com/baby-milestones.html