NATURE V.

NURTURE
Early College High School

SOCIOLOGY 101
 SICIOLOGY 101

Intro
Nature refers to how genetics influence an individual's personality, whereas
nurture refers to how their environment (including relationships and
experiences) impacts their development. Whether nature or nurture plays a
bigger role in personality and development is one of the oldest philosophical
debates within the field of psychology.

Learn how each is defined, along with why the issue of nature vs. nurture
continues to arise. We also share a few examples of when arguments on this
topic typically occur, how the two factors interact with each other, and
contemporary views that exist in the debate of nature vs. nurture as it stands
today.

Nature and Nurture Defined

To better understand the nature vs. nurture argument, it
helps to know what each of these terms means.

Nature refers largely to our genetics. It includes the

genes we are born with and other hereditary factors
that can impact how our personality is formed and
influence the way that we develop from childhood
through adulthood.
Nurture encompasses the environmental factors that
impact who we are. This includes our early childhood
experiences, the way we were raised, our social
relationships, and the surrounding culture.

A few biologically determined characteristics include

genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color.
Other characteristics are tied to environmental
influences, such as how a person behaves, which can be
influenced by parenting styles and learned experiences.

For example, one child might learn through observation

and reinforcement to say please and thank you. Another
child might learn to behave aggressively by observing
older children engage in violent behavior on the
playground.
 AROWWAI

The Debate of Nature

vs. Nurture
The nature vs. nurture debate centers on the contributions of genetics and environmental factors to human development. Some philosophers, such as Plato and
Descartes, suggested that certain factors are inborn or occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.

Advocates of this point of view believe that all of our characteristics and behaviors are the result of evolution. They contend that genetic traits are handed down from
parents to their children and influence the individual differences that make each person unique.

Other well-known thinkers, such as John Locke, believed in what is known as tabula rasa which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate. According to this notion,
everything that we are is determined by our experiences.

Behaviorism is a good example of a theory rooted in this belief as behaviorists feel that all actions and behaviors are the results of conditioning. Theorists such as John
B. Watson believed that people could be trained to do and become anything, regardless of their genetic background.

People with extreme views are called nativists and empiricists. Nativists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of inheritance.
Empiricists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics result from learning.
 Examples of
Nature vs.
Nurture

One example of when the argument of nature vs. nurture arises is when a person achieves a high level of academic
success. Did they do so because they are genetically predisposed to elevated levels of intelligence, or is their success a
result of an enriched environment?

The argument of nature vs. nurture can also be made when it comes to why a person behaves in a certain way. If a man
abuses his wife and kids, for instance, is it because he was born with violent tendencies, or is violence something he
learned by observing others in his life when growing up?

Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology

Throughout the history of psychology, the debate of nature vs. nurture has continued to stir up controversy. Eugenics, for example, was a movement heavily
influenced by the nativist approach.

Psychologist Francis Galton coined the terms 'nature versus nurture' and 'eugenics' and believed that intelligence resulted from genetics. Galton also felt that
intelligent individuals should be encouraged to marry and have many children, while less intelligent individuals should be discouraged from reproducing.

The value placed on nature vs. nurture can even vary between the different branches of psychology, with some branches taking a more one-sided approach. In
biopsychology, for example, researchers conduct studies exploring how neurotransmitters influence behavior, emphasizing the role of nature.

In social psychology, on the other hand, researchers might conduct studies looking at how external factors such as peer pressure and social media influence
behaviors, stressing the importance of nurture. Behaviorism is another branch that focuses on the impact of the environment on behavior.
 Nature vs. Nurture in
Child Development
Some psychological theories of child development place more emphasis on nature and others focus more on nurture.
An example of a nativist theory involving child development is Chomsky's concept of a language acquisition device
(LAD).1 According to this theory, all children are born with an instinctive mental capacity that allows them to both learn
and produce language.

An example of an empiricist child development theory is Albert Bandura's social learning theory. This theory says that
people learn by observing the behavior of others. In his famous Bobo doll experiment, Bandura demonstrated that
children could learn aggressive behaviors simply by observing another person acting aggressively.

Nature vs. Nurture in Personality Development

There is also some argument as to whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in the development of one's
personality. The answer to this question varies depending on which personality development theory you use.

According to behavioral theories, our personality is a result of the interactions we have with our environment, while
biological theories suggest that personality is largely inherited. Then there are psychodynamic theories of personality
that emphasize the impact of both.

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Illness Development

One could argue that either nature or nurture contributes to mental health development. Some causes of
mental illness fall on the nature side of the debate, including changes to or imbalances with chemicals in
the brain. Genetics can also contribute to mental illness development, increasing one's risk of a certain
disorder or disease.

Mental disorders with some type of genetic component include autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia.2
Other explanations for mental illness are environmental. This includes being exposed to environmental
toxins, such as drugs or alcohol, while still in utero. Certain life experiences can also influence mental
illness development, such as witnessing a traumatic event, leading to the development of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health Therapy

Different types of mental health treatment can also rely more heavily on either nature or nurture
in their treatment approach. One of the goals of many types of therapy is to uncover any life
experiences that may have contributed to mental illness development (nurture).

However, genetics (nature) can play a role in treatment as well. For instance, research indicates
that a person's genetic makeup can impact how their body responds to antidepressants.3 Taking
this into consideration is important for getting that person the help they need.
 The Best for This Month

Interaction Between
Nature and Nurture
Which is stronger: nature or nurture? Many researchers consider the interaction between heredity and environment—nature with nurture as
opposed to nature versus nurture—to be the most important influencing factor of all.

For example, perfect pitch is the ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without any reference. Researchers have found that this ability tends to
run in families and might be tied to a single gene. However, they've also discovered that possessing the gene is not enough as musical training
during early childhood is needed for this inherited ability to manifest itself.4

Height is another example of a trait influenced by an interaction between nature and nurture. A child might inherit the genes for height. However, if
they grow up in a deprived environment where proper nourishment isn't received, they might never attain the height they could have had if they'd
grown up in a healthier environment.

A newer field of study that aims to learn more about the interaction between genes and environment is epigenetics. Epigenetics seeks to explain
how environment can impact the way in which genes are expressed.

Some characteristics are biologically determined, such as eye color, hair color, and skin color. Other things, like life expectancy and height, have a
strong biological component but are also influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle.
Contemporary Views of
Nature vs. Nurture

Most experts recognize that neither nature

nor nurture is stronger than the other.
Instead, both factors play a critical role in
who we are and who we become.5
Levitt M. Perceptions of nature, nurture and
behaviour. Life Sci Soc Policy. 2013;9:13.
doi:10.1186/2195-7819-9-13
Not only that but nature and nurture
interact with each other in important ways
all throughout our lifespan.

As a result, many in this field are interested

in seeing how genes modulate
environmental influences and vice versa. At
the same time, this debate of nature vs.
nurture still rages on in some areas, such as
in the origins of homosexuality and
influences on intelligence.

While a few people take the extreme

nativist or radical empiricist approach, the
reality is that there is not a simple way to
disentangle the multitude of forces that
exist in personality and human development.
Instead, these influences include genetic
factors, environmental factors, and how
each intermingles with the other.