Both of these extreme positions have shortcomings and are antiquated.
This article explores the difference between nature and nurture.
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How Is Nature Defined?
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However, the impact of gene-environment (or nature-nurture) interactions on someone’s traits is interwoven.
Environmental factors also play a role in temperament by influencing gene activity.
Trying to measure “nature vs. nurture” scientifically is challenging.
It’s impossible to know precisely where the influence of genes and environment begin or end.
How Are Inherited Traits Measured?
Heritabilitydescribes the influence that genes have on human characteristics and traits.
It’s measured on a scale of 0.0 to 1.0.
Very strong heritable traits like someone’s eye color are ranked a 1.0.
Traits that have nothing to do with genetics, like speaking with a regional accent ranks a zero.
However, personality isn’t set in stone.
Environmental “nurture” factors can change someone’s predominant personality traits over time.
For example, exposureto the chemical leadduring childhood may alter personality.
It’s impossible to know exactly how much “nurture” changes personality as people get older.
How Is Nurture Defined?
In adulthood, “nurturing” oneself by making healthy lifestyle choices can offset certain genetic predispositions.
Early philosophers believed the genetic traits passed from parents to their children influence individual differences and traits.
In Child Development
The nature vs. nurture debate in child development is apparent when studying language development.
Nurture theorists would argue that language develops by listening and imitating adults and other children.
In addition, nurture theorists believe people learn by observing the behavior of others.
In Psychology
In psychology, the nature vs. nurture beliefs vary depending on the branch of psychology.
In Mental Illness
Both nature and nurture can contribute to mental illness development.
What Is Nativism (Extreme Nature Position)?
Innatism emphasizes nature’s role in shaping our minds and personality traits before birth.
What Is Empiricism (Extreme Nurture Position)?
There are so many shades of gray where nature and nurture overlap.
The influences of nature and nurture in psychology are impossible to unravel.
For example, imagine someone growing up in a household with analcoholicparent who has frequent rage attacks.
It refers to external factors and experiences that turn genes “on” or “off.”
Epigenetic mechanisms alter DNA’s physical structure in utero (in the womb) and across the human lifespan.
It’s impossible to disentangle how nature and nurture overlap; they are inextricably intertwined.
In most cases, nature and nurture combine to make us who we are.
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