Nature vs. nurture is one of the most controversial and most enduring debates in the history of psychology. The most debatable and important question that arises is that, is the behaviour of humans influenced by genetic factors or environmental factors. Is our personality a result of the traits that we have inherited as an individual or is it a result of our life experiences. This issue was original brought up by Francis Galton in the early 16th century. Thus, dwelling on this issue, is the human behaviour, feelings and ideas innate or are they learnt behaviour. In the early 17th century, philosophers like Plato and Rene Descarts stated that human beings are born with certain in-born traits and that these traits are not influenced by the environment.
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They stated that all the individual differences that an individual may develop through infancy to childhood are a result of learning. It is how the individual is brought up and how it affects ones development. For example, an infant forms certain attachment in respond to the attention and love being received. Also, language is said to come by imitating the speech of others and the stimulation provided by the environment in which the child is being brought up. Many psychologists have come up with a number of theories that state the importance of nurture in the development of human behaviour and development. Bowldy’s (1969) theory of attachment states the bond between the child and the mother as being one of the most innate processes that guarantees ones survival. Chomsky (1965) states that, children are born with an inbred cerebral capacity that allows them to both learn a new language and produce it. On the other hand, Albert Bandura (1977) a social psychologist took sides with the empiricists and stated that human beings learn behaviour by observing and modelling others. Lastly, Skinner (1957) also believed that language was also learnt by shaping techniques i.e. individuals learn from other …show more content…
As discussed above, the core of the nature side of the debate is that it includes the genetic predisposition or the natural influences. While, the nurture side of the debate includes the events, interactions and the experiences faced by an individual in the course of his life. Therefore, personality is a part of the enduring nature- nurture conflict for personality is greatly influenced by the genetic predisposition. For example, a child may develop a tendency towards certain behaviour like aggression or shyness. This can’t be explained because neither of the parents demonstrates such kind a trait. Thus, in such a situation nature seems to play a bigger role in the development of the personality of the child. Also, the personality of the child is greatly influenced by the parents. Great similarities can be observed. Thus, in such a situation the child’s personality has been largely developed by the influence and nurture of the parents. Secondly, we talk about Intelligence. For instance if an individual has done remarkably well in academics we state that the level of intelligence of that individual is very high. However, when scrutinizing the individual’s background of intelligence the nature-nurture influences are questioned. The individual’s level of intelligence may point back to the
They stated that all the individual differences that an individual may develop through infancy to childhood are a result of learning. It is how the individual is brought up and how it affects ones development. For example, an infant forms certain attachment in respond to the attention and love being received. Also, language is said to come by imitating the speech of others and the stimulation provided by the environment in which the child is being brought up. Many psychologists have come up with a number of theories that state the importance of nurture in the development of human behaviour and development. Bowldy’s (1969) theory of attachment states the bond between the child and the mother as being one of the most innate processes that guarantees ones survival. Chomsky (1965) states that, children are born with an inbred cerebral capacity that allows them to both learn a new language and produce it. On the other hand, Albert Bandura (1977) a social psychologist took sides with the empiricists and stated that human beings learn behaviour by observing and modelling others. Lastly, Skinner (1957) also believed that language was also learnt by shaping techniques i.e. individuals learn from other …show more content…
As discussed above, the core of the nature side of the debate is that it includes the genetic predisposition or the natural influences. While, the nurture side of the debate includes the events, interactions and the experiences faced by an individual in the course of his life. Therefore, personality is a part of the enduring nature- nurture conflict for personality is greatly influenced by the genetic predisposition. For example, a child may develop a tendency towards certain behaviour like aggression or shyness. This can’t be explained because neither of the parents demonstrates such kind a trait. Thus, in such a situation nature seems to play a bigger role in the development of the personality of the child. Also, the personality of the child is greatly influenced by the parents. Great similarities can be observed. Thus, in such a situation the child’s personality has been largely developed by the influence and nurture of the parents. Secondly, we talk about Intelligence. For instance if an individual has done remarkably well in academics we state that the level of intelligence of that individual is very high. However, when scrutinizing the individual’s background of intelligence the nature-nurture influences are questioned. The individual’s level of intelligence may point back to the