Nature vs. Nurture is the age-old question that has baffled
psychologists, law enforcement, and average citizens alike. But
what is the answer? Well, I believe that nurture, the way a child
is raised and formed, is much more important than how it is
born.
Considering that many people are born with physiological
problems and live normal lives without hurting anyone, I
believe the answer is clear. Nurture plays a bigger part in a
child’s psyche and it’s not just the home life but everything
around the child/teen that can affect them. This includes
bullying, self-doubt, and toxic environments outside of home
life that may cause them to lash out at the world later in life.
Some psychologists support the idea that nurture does not play a
big part in the probability of someone committing crimes or
becoming a corrupt person. However, they seem to ignore that
fact the biggest cause of why the most infamous serial killers
like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and the Nightstalker (Richard
Ramirez) have killed. These three men have almost nothing in
common, other than the fact that they all came from neglectful
or abusive households.
Another study conducted by the University of Berkley
concluded that only 2% of people who suffer from bipolar
disorder reported they feel the need to hurt themselves or others. Conversely, in the same study, they found that a staggering 59% of people who grew up in abusive households had thoughts of hurting themselves or others.