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Nature vs nurture debate
Nature vs Nurture debate: refers to the debate as to whether nature (hereditary factors) or nurture (environmental factors) has a greater influence on development.
Most psychologists today agree that there is an interaction between both inherited factors and environmental factors in the development of an individual.
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Nature
Nature refers to hereditary factors that influence development.
- Hereditary refers to the inborn, inherited genetic factors passed from biological parents to children that partly determine individual characteristics.
- E.g. blood type, hair colour, eye colour, height, susceptibility to certain diseases
This is the nature component within the nature versus nurture debate.
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Nurture
- Nurture refers to the effects that external environmental factors have on the development of our physical, psychological and behavioural characteristics.
- E.g. food, education, love and support
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