The measure of mind: Methods of psychology

A Reflection on the Measure of Mind
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

A Reflection on the Measure of Mind
Psychologists and scholars of other disciplines continue to investigate the evolving human mind. Their interest is to create an understanding of how nature and nurture affect human behavior. I learned from the class reading that innate predispositions (nature) and my experience with the environment (nurture) shape my behavior. Therefore, this paper is a reflection of the class reading on the evolving human mind with particular attention to the mechanisms and principles of evolution and how the shape human behavior.
First, nature defines human behavior through genetic makeup which comprises of the features that individuals inherit from their parents (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2016). In my family, we are tall and resemble each other. Additionally, we have a similar skin complexion. Evidently, we inherited these genes from our parents during conception. Having gained substantial knowledge on genetic inheritance, I am in a better position to understand the behavior of my peers and colleagues than before. For instance, some individuals may inherit mood disorders, health conditions such as diabetes and particular behaviors from their parents.
Nurture, on the other hand, is primarily responsible for the early human development. The environmental factors involved in child upbringing shape a person’s behavior (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2016). For instance, a child who grows in a violent home is likely to develop antisocial behaviors such as bullying.

On the contrary, a person who is raised in a happy home is expected to develop positive traits and values such as respect, kindness, and compassion. In my understanding, student behavior varies widely because of a different upbringing. Additionally, the way a person is nurtured determines his or her social and professional life. For instance, a worker who shows respect for authority and works without supervision was likely raised in an environment where people valued respect and obedience.
Notably, the class reading indicates that evolution influences human behavior (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2016). Given the fact that behavior can be adaptive, it is likely that the trait that allowed the person or animal to adapt can be passed down to newer generations. The human mind has evolved, thus, affecting the behavioral pattern. From a psychological perspective, the human brain decodes the current behavior exists in its form since it gives some advantage to survival and reproduction. Case in point, the modern world dictates that a person should be educated and secure a well-paying job to be successful. A successful person can procreate comfortably, thus, ensuring generation continuity. This information is valuable because it helps me understand how to shape my social and professional life. For instance, I now understand that it is essential to acquire special skills and increase my intellectual capacity to secure a well-paying job. It is also through adopting socially acceptable traits such as being a leader and complying with the law that I might be able to live a fulfilling life and influence the future generation positively.
Lastly, the class reading revealed that humans are a social species (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2016). People interact daily, thus, leading to different outcomes which eventually affect their survival. Individuals can cooperate to ensure their survival or interact for selfish reasons. Case in point, intimacy between a male and female can lead to the conception which ensures the continuation of other generations. Professionally, it is through cooperation among team members that new ideas are generated and work performance is enhanced.
Conclusively, nurture and nature contribute to the evolution of the human mind. Over time, nature eliminates weaker species and allows the stronger ones to thrive while different environmental factors shape human behavior. Studying the evolution of the human mind and how the process influences behavior is important because the information gained can be applied to a person’s social, personal and professional life. I understand that people’s behavior and physical features vary widely due to genetic inheritance and environmental factors. It is, therefore, essential to understand human behavior for a successful social and professional life.

Reference
Cacioppo, J. T., & Freberg, L. (2016). Discovering psychology: The science of mind (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.