whether genetic or ecological factors influence aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression
Aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression are some of the behaviors that give a burden to individuals. These behaviors usually are poorly analyzed, and there is no consensus on the appropriate way to recognize whether either genetic or environmental factors cause these behaviors. In the past decades, there have been the longest and the contemptuous debates on whether genetics or environmental factors influence the practices of an individual. The most remarkable genetic behavioral research influenced many people to retire to the discussion in favor of the strongly favored perspective of join influences of genes and the environment. The human behavioral genetics has been trying to identify the genetic and the environmental factors that are responsible for the change in the behaviors of individuals. This paper will try to analyze whether genetic or ecological factors influence aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression.
In determining the factors that are responsible for aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression, it is essential to study some of the theories that explain the behaviors of individuals. One of the major theories is the social identity theory by Tajfel Turner. This theory tries to predict and specify the circumstances the individuals see themselves or as a group. The social identity theory also considers the consequences of social and personal identities for a group of people and also for individuals. This theory was mainly developed by studying the minimal groups that were categorized, making the individuals think of themselves. The origination of the social identity theory was from the conviction that group members could influence individuals to instill social situation meaning. From the theory, it is evident that group membership can assist an individual in getting to know who they are and how are they supposed to relate to other individuals. The vital aim of the theory was to connect the cognitive processes to individual behavioral motivation. Groups such as social and family that individuals belong are the environmental factors that influence the person source of self-esteem. Being in a group enables an individual to gain a source of social identity and also the social world belonging. The social identity theory had a central hypothesis that the in-group members will have to identify the drawbacks of the out-group members, which enables individuals to gain and enhance their self-image.
The theory of Behaviorism is learning according to the idea that all behaviors are obtained by conditioning. Conditioning happens when there is interaction with the environment. Responses to environmental stimuli determine our actions. The assumption made is that the primary means of conducting learning is by observation from environmental factors. Operant conditioning is one of the conditioning where individuals gain their behaviors through punishments and reinforcements. A link is made between a practice and a result of the behavior. Good results of action increase the chances of the behavior to likely to happen in the future. But responses leading bad results reduces its chances to happen again in the near future. Classical conditioning is a method in behavioral teaching where the neutral stimulus is combined with a naturally occurring stimulus. Neutral stimulus usually provokes the same reactions as naturally occurring stimuli appearing by itself. The related incentives are the Conditioned stimulus, and the learned behavior is the conditioned response.
Behaviorism has learning principles, namely: the law of frequency, which states that the more rapid a response is made to a particular stimulus, the more likely that the reaction will happen again. Principle of recency that states that the most recent action to a stimulus is more likely to be repeated. The type of behaviorism used is Methodological behaviorism, which says that only collective efforts can be objectively observed and has the objective to anticipate and control behavior. Self -analysis forms the vital part of its methods, but the value represented scientifically of its data depends on the readiness they give to interpretations.
The other theory that tries to confirm that aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression are a result of environmental factors is the social influence by Nobert Kelman. This theory proposed that social impact brings changes in the behavior of and individuals at different levels. The different levels of change are because of the various processes through which individuals accept substantial changes. Compliance is one of the methods in the theory, and it occurs when people recognize the changes in the induced behavior to gain approval and evade punishment. The induced responses are a result of environmental factors, and it influences the behavior of and individual. The other process of the influence theory is the identification, where individuals tend to adopt the induced behavior for them to maintain and enhance their relationships with other individuals or group of people. Internalization is the third process in the social influence theory. In this process, people tend to accept the induced behavior after determining the rewarding side of that behavior, which depends on other’s opinions. People change their behavior and attitude due to social influence, which arises from specific actions or in response to what others do or think. They tend to conform to changes in behavior to be equal to other concerned group beliefs or behavior. Some may comply with changes in behavior caused by direct requests by others to develop and keep specific behavior.
According to these theories, it is evident that environmental factors, rather than genetic factors, influence aggression, and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression. Aggression and heights of teenagers’ natural expression are essential in the social development of and individual as they get to learn how to manage emotions and deal with conflicts. From the theories, most of the individual behaviors are learned but not acquired through genetics. Individuals on a particular group tend to learn as a unit and enables each group member to understand who they are and what is expected of them when relating with other individuals. Also individuals tend to learn the induced behaviors if they are beneficial them or when the need to evade punishment arise. Environmental therefore plays a vital role in influencing the aggression and extremes of teenagers’ natural expression in individuals.