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Nature versus Nurture
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Nature versus Nurture (Genetics versus Environment) 5/20/15
As I mentioned in my introduction, I am currently working on my doctrine. One of the topics this week is nature versus nurture. Anyone that has dabbled in psychology knows that these two parts of our character are debated as to which gets more credit for developing us into whom we are as adults. The nature is the genetics side. We meet people that are calm and collective about everything. Then there are those that get all wired up and we look them and think, 'that boy is his father's son'. The other debate is how much the environment that we live influences who we are. Looking at the athletes that get into trouble while in college or at the professional level they will usually be quick to talk about the streets and neighborhood they grew up in. It is no secret that when you have to survive you will do what is necessary. Unfortunately, this has both positive and negative results on who we are as adults or even as a young adult. For myself I agree with the research that states we all are a mixture of both. Sport psychology in itself has yet to really study the debate. The thought is coming strictly out of the findings through general psychology. One of the most famous cases would be Maurice Clarett. He came from a broken home. His mom worked hard to build a home. Maurice and his brothers worked hard to survive. But, on the streets the fight was harder. The fight was about respect. As Maurice ran up and down the football field at Ohio State Univesity he still had the streets in his blood. He had too, it was all he knew. This, unforunately, took his college career and his NFL career from him. He let the streets, the fame, the alcohol, and all the hype take him down. His charcter was built around being tough and hard, but not being mentally prepared for the hardships that success and hardwork bring. The nature said he was athletic ability. He obviously got his athletic ability from his genetics somewhere in the line. I will agree that you can train through hardwork and dedication but one cannot be trained to Claretts athletic ability. Nature is almost a lucky piece of life that many want. Many of you have had to work really hard at maintaining your weight and body fat because, well, genetics refuses to help. I am right there with you. My father's genetics blessed us all with a beer gut and the ability to be good runners. The issue is that we have to continue to run to maintain the low body fat. We have all heard a woman say that 'it goes straight to my hips', I understand because it goes straight to my gut. I eat small portions, drool as I walk past the dessert options. For myself, nature has blessed me with the ability to be a decent runner at the age of 37. Nature has also made it difficult to celebrate the accomplishment because I have the beer gut that fights right back. The nurture side blessed me as well. I discovered running by mistake. I begun running because it was something to do. I met the 800m and fell in love. Distance, 1600m and 3200m not so much. Later in life I learned to love the 5km run. My nurture was full of alcohol, lies, racism, and non-parenting. I was alone. My best friend and his family took me in but it was not the same. I didn't know it then but it drives me to be a better worker in all aspect. It drives my passions for today. In terms of athletic ability, I am a runner. I can get up and go at anytime. I can stop running for weeks and pickup where I left off. I train with 5km. I love the 800m during competition. When the Rio Olympics come around, I will glued to the track and field. It also helps drive my passion for soccer refereeing. Am I good? I like to think so. I will obviously never be a professional but I do referee high level matches. The athletic ability of running is a key must have in order to stay on top of play and be present at times when needed. For your lifestyle in your chosen sport, rowing, cycling, running, hockey, whatever, does one out weight the other? Thanks for reading. |
