Is Personality Determined by Nature or Nurture - 1623 Words

Crime and Punishment Essay Societal Rehabilitation Fyodor Dostoyevskys work in Crime and Punishment can be cited as largely autobiographical. Although the author never committed anything like the atrocious murders depicted in the novel, the nihilistic traits of his protagonist, Raskolnikov, closely resemble his own ideals as a youth. In 1947, Dostoyevsky joined the revolutionary Petrashevist cause. The author and this group of radical socialists narrowly escaped death after being arrested by police. They received a pardon from the czar only moments before a firing squad was to take aim. They were sentenced instead to four years in a Siberian labor camp. In his penal servitude Dostoyevsky examined his revolutionary†¦show more content†¦These extraordinary beings (led by their Dionysian tendencies) must rebel against the restraint of common Apollonians. After some sort of a revolution occurs, the radical Dionysian and the conservative Apollonian principles will synthesize into a middle ground. At the end of Raskolnikovs c onversation with Porfiry he comments that this revolutionary cycle will continue until the New Jerusalem (Dostoyevsk! y 314). This reference to a Utopian socialist paradise stresses Raskolnikovs liberal interest in communism. Communism is the complete antithesis to the czarist regime the conservative author hoped to preserve. Raskolnikovs radical theory fails him. As the book progresses, his senses leave him. He is driven by the guilt of his crime to near insanity. After becoming gravely ill, he discovers that he is not the Napoleon figure that he hoped to be. Because Raskolnikov is not able to get past the murder he committed, he concludes he is not one of the extraordinary. Raskolnikovs intense disappointment in his failure, his emotional and physical exhaustion, and prompting from Sonya to do ‘what is right leads him to confess himself. With Sonyas crucifix in hand, he goes to ‘bear his cross and accept his responsibility. In the novel, Dostoyevsky emphasizes the flaws o f Raskolnikovs radical objectives. When the main character is first imprisoned he felt no remorse for his crime (Dostoyevsky 623). All that he regrets is that he has failed to follow throughShow MoreRelatedNature vs. Nurture1117 Words   |  5 PagesThe nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in sociology (Davidson, 1991, n.p.). The debate centers on the relative contributions of genetics and environmental factors to human behavior (Davidson, 1991, n.p.). Today, the majority of experts believe that behavior and development are influenced by both nature and nurture (Macionis, 2009, p. 73). The biggest question now is which one affects human development more: nature or nurture? According to Macionis (2009, p. 72), in the pastRead MoreNature Vs. Nature : Nature And Nurture969 Words   |  4 Pagesare complicated and have complex personalities—and serial killers even more complex. Determining where these personalities come from, especially in serial killers, is a question of speculation asked by psychologists. One theory, nature, is that who people are is determined by genetics. Another theory, nurture, is that people are who they are because of environment. Both theories are in fact correct; however, the cause of personality is not solely nature or nurture, but on a case by case basis, canRead MoreThe Meaning of Nature and Nurture in Psychology Essay1192 Words   |  5 PagesThe Meaning of Nature and Nurture in Psychology The nature nurture dichotomy is a theme alw ays present in many areas of psychology. But is it right to talk about it as a dichotomy? , Certainly not. 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Nurture712 Words   |  3 Pages Position Paper: Nature vs. Nurture nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The controversy of nature vs. nurture has been going on for many years, and a decision has not yet been reached in which one is the most affective. Using the results of the countless tests done, everyday situations, and the twins experiment, I will prove that nature is a larger contributor to the outcome of our personalities than nurture. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Firstly, many psychologists and Universities, such as Harvard,Read MoreThe Nature Nurture Controversy : Biological Or Environmental Effects Of Iq, Personality And Behavioral Differences932 Words   |  4 PagesThe basic elements of the nature-nurture controversy, debates the genetic or environmental effects of IQ, personality and behavioral differences in humans. Nature describes an inherited trait, otherwise known as the genes, containing the genetic code for each individual born. These genes contribute the physical characteristics, for example: eye color, skin pigmentation, hair texture, blood type, longevity, etc. Genes impose certain diseases, such as Huntington s Chorea, Breast Cancer, Down SyndromeRead MorePersonality Is Developed From Genes ( Nature ) Or Influenced By Environment ( Nurture ) Essay1436 Words   |  6 Pagesperson’s personality is developed from genes (nature) or influenced by environment (nurture). Personality is something ever y human has and is an essential element in their social world. This research is important to know if, how, and why personalities change. Different scholarly-based material was used to support either stance on the issue. The articles and research helped to decipher the roles of parents, genes, biology, the environment, experiences, and culture in a person’s personality. PersonalityRead MoreThe Influential Difference Between Environment And Heredity1610 Words   |  7 PagesOur personalities have many traits, and these traits made us who we are. But that’s not the whole story about it. We are not just similar because we have the same traits, but we are also uniquely different from our environment and heredity causes, or maybe our freewill and other unknown factors. Our personalities are so unique that we are the only person in this whole universe. No one else is the same, and even identical twins are different. We are us, and only us. So how does that work out? Why