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The Nature-Nurture Debate

The Nature-Nurture Debate. Leslie Price 1/29/08. What is the Nature-Nurture Debate?. The question of whether a child’s development is most influenced by genetics (nature) or environment (nurture). Nature. The argument that biological factors have the strongest influence on development

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The Nature-Nurture Debate

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  1. The Nature-Nurture Debate Leslie Price 1/29/08

  2. What is the Nature-Nurture Debate? • The question of whether a child’s development is most influenced by genetics (nature) or environment (nurture).

  3. Nature • The argument that biological factors have the strongest influence on development • Any capabilities or limitations are innate • “genetic blueprint” for development exists

  4. Nurture • The argument that environmental factors have the strongest influence on development. • Environmental influences: • Family • School • Peers • Culture

  5. Interactionism (Hebb 1949) • A range of genetic influences can be expressed differently in a range of potential environments • Both nature and nurture influence development, but one may be predominant at a certain point in life. • Heredity and environment cannot be separated • Maybe they shouldn’t be separated • This is what psychologists believe today

  6. Why is this debate important? • Implications for schooling, parenting, etc. • i.e. nurture and parenting  parents could completely shape children’s behavior • i.e. nature and parenting  nothing parents could do to improve behavior

  7. Twin Studies • Study identical twins raised separately and fraternal twins raised together • Similarities  genetics or combination of genetics and similar experiences • Differences  must be due to environment • Adoption studies

  8. What do Psychologists believe today? • Most psychologists today agree that both nature and nurture play a role in development. • Do not know the extent of either.

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