Mod 1.3: Nature vs Nurture

ED 304: Ed Psych and Human Development

Author: Madison Giles

Validated by: (Name, Date) Macey Mattson 1/25/2023, Rebekah Black 1/25/23

Disclosure: ChatGPT3

Summary:

Nature vs Nurture is a study about whether children are born how they are (nature) or if they become who they are from their environment (nurture). The Nature vs. Nurture concept was first theorized in the mid-1800s by an English Victorian named Francis Galton.

Nature is also called “genetics” and refers to biological factors in a person. Nurture is sometimes called “environment” and refers to life experience or the environment you were brought up in. Nature vs nurture has been an ongoing debate between researchers for a long time, but some of them have been open to the idea that nature and nurture both play aspects in a person’s life.

The nature vs nurture debate is a controversial concept because each concept goes against certain beliefs and theories. Nature would have to go into more scientific research and would go against the nurture theory. It would also mean that the way you parent a child does not matter because they would end up a certain way anyway. The nurture concept would go against the nature theory and would mean that parents have to be careful how they parent. It would mean that if your child didn't turn out like a decent human being, it would be all the parent's fault how they turned out and would go against other theories formed by philosophers.

True or False: Nature refers to the genetic and biological factors that influence a person's traits and characteristics.

1. True
2. False

True or False: The nature vs nurture debate has been completely resolved.

1. True
2. False

Select all of the phrases that correlate to Nurture in the Nature vs. Nurture debate

1. Also known as “environment” and refers to life experience
2. Also known as “genetics” and refers to biological factors in a person
3. Parenting would be included in this term.
4. The fundamental nature of the child is included in this term.
5. If a child is unable to learn because of a car accident, this would be…
6. If a child is born with a cognitive disability, this would be….

Which of the following is NOT true about the nature vs nurture concept?

1. Nature is also referred to as “genetics”
2. Nurture is also referred to as “environment”
3. Nature vs nurture came into discussion in the mid-1800’s
4. The Nature/Nurture debate has been completely resolved in favor of nature.

Further Reading:

• Who came up with nature vs nurture? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590158/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20'nature%20versus%20nurture,and%20environment%20on%20social%20advancement.%5C
• Nature vs Nurture facts: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/nature-vs-nurture#:~:text=The%20expression%20%E2%80%9Cnature%20vs.,or%20life%20experience%20more%20generally.