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  • Essay / Specific Psychological Disorders: Nature versus Nurture

    There is ongoing controversy over whether specific psychological disorders are primarily biological in origin (nature) or result primarily from learning and experience (nurture). Select two disorders from this week's readings and prepare arguments for the nature and nurture positions for both disorders. Psychological disorders: “Mental processes and/or behavioral patterns that cause emotional distress and/or substantial impairment in functioning. ” (Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2014, p. 393) Nature versus Nurture “The Nature versus Nurture debate focuses on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development” (Cherry, 2018). Nature refers to the biological factors that influence who we are, such as appearance, personality, etc. Whereas education focuses on the environmental factors that impact who we are, such as culture, relationships, and childhood. Anxiety and major depressive disorder present examples of two opposing arguments. Anxiety demonstrates nature and nurture. An example of nature is obsessive-compulsive disorder, otherwise known as (OCD). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay OCD is a form of anxiety that has been proven to be genetically linked. Often a person with OCD feels like they have no control over what is happening. Sometimes these people feel the need to repeat behaviors. For example, turn the light on and off three times before leaving the room. There is no logical connection. However, by performing this behavior, they make an imaginative connection with the idea that they must repeat this behavior three times to feel like they are doing well. It is therefore a genetic component. However, PTSD demonstrates a much more environmental approach. PTSD presents a person experiencing trauma or finding themselves in a situation where they feel unsafe. When one is exposed to these circumstances, a natural reaction occurs, thus leading to PTSD symptoms. Therefore, we can see that anxiety is both natural and learned. Major depressive disorder is also caused by biological factors and life events. Certain situations and circumstances can trigger a depressive episode. However, some people can experience a depressive episode without an external event. For example, some people suffer from a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is a chemical found in our brain that is considered a natural mood stabilizer, as well as many other functions. These people are more likely to suffer from depression following a stressful event. Additionally, we might have two people experiencing the same stressful event. However, only the person deficient in serotonin will actually cause depression. Therefore, we can see this environment or upbringing which is the stressful event or biological factors, lack of serotonin as nature. Anxiety has been a significant struggle in my family history. I have had anxiety and have struggled with it for years, to the point of seeking additional help. By applying this method, I believe that my fear comes more from an environmental approach. Over the years, I have observed family members and their reactions to stressful events or circumstances. I believe I have adopted some of these patterns and trends throughout my life. Thus, this led to my developing anxiety...