1# I believe that the human condition is influenced by all three (nature vs nurture). Biological factors/influences such as our genes, gender, brain structure and chemistry & hormone levels all play a role in how each person functions. Psychological influences such as perception, thoughts, feelings and emotions influence human functioning on both a conscious and subconscious level. Socially we are influenced by things such as relationships, our environment, our stress factors and our support systems. So although biological and psychological factors predispose us to certain genetic conditions, the social influences such as social norms, peers, groups, & other factors also exert influence over the way we behave through unwritten rules and by what is considered acceptable or unacceptable in social “norms.” Research from social psychology has shown us that connecting to others helps the psychological processes (Fiske. 2018).

I believe that by understanding these multidimensional influences social workers learn to recognize their clients issues, needs, conditions, limitations, and factors that their clients are facing. By gaining this knowledge, social workers are better prepared and able to assist their clients with getting access to resources, teaching them problem solving techniques, and discuss all the options at hand. The more the social worker knows about their client, the better able they are to assist them

2# When I first read the question of which influence most impacts human functioning, I immediately thought social because I look at social development as what influences the decisions we make. Social media and conformity to social rules have a big impact on most people, if not everyone in their daily lives and influences how we interact with others. 

These three influences on the human condition are important to each other. The psychological influence is developed from the biological influence and the social influence is developed from the psychological influence. If I had to make a choice of which influence has the biggest impact on the human condition, I feel like I would keep contradicting myself. Biology is our physical development and it can be changed depending on the physical choices we make throughout our lives. Depending on how we change physically, we can also change psychologically which would then change us socially. For example, excessive drug or alcohol use can change the way the brain works which can change the things and the people that we feel are most valuable to us.

Psychology is our mental development which makes up how we interact with others. Psychology is what makes up how we think about ourselves, others, and the environment around us(Zastrow, C., Kirst-Ashman, K.K. & Hessenauer, S.L., 2019). Our social development, the friends we choose in school, and the type environment we feel most comfortable in depends on who we are psychologically. However, social influences can also change who we are psychologically depending on the kind of person we want to be and how we want others to view us. I don’t think I can come up with a clear-cut answer as to which influence impacts us the most. 

I think that understanding these influences can help with the social workers decision making because it helps them to understand why a person is the way they are and what has influenced them to be the way they are. I think it is important to remember that one influence can’t exist without the other two and that just a simple interaction or experience can change everything about a person and who they want to be. 

My question to the class: Did you have a hard time deciding which influence has the biggest impact on the human condition? Why or why not?