The Nature vs. Nurture debate is all about the effect of nature and nurture on human behaviour.
Nature is the influence of genes on human traits, while nurture refers to the effect of external environmental factors on human behavior.
The debate originated from the theories proposed by Sir Francis Galton in 1869 and is still a major topic of interest among psychologists.
One of the most interesting aspects of the theory is the influence of nature and nurture on mental health.
What is Nature vs. Nurture
“In the real world, there is no nature vs. nurture argument, only an infinitely complex and moment-by-moment interaction between genetic and environmental effects.”
― Gabor Mate
Human traits are diverse and so are the sources of those traits.
The two extreme stands considered genuine by some are:
- Nativism: Also known as the “extreme nature position”, it says that all the characteristics of human beings are the result of evolution only.
- Empiricism: Also known as the “extreme nurture position”, it says that all the characteristics of human beings are determined by the environment and are a result of learning.
Some traits of humans like Skin Colour, Height, and some diseases like Sickle Cell Anaemia and Cystic Fibrosis are genetically determined and are inherited from the parents. While other traits like some behaviour patterns are determined by our environment.
So, it can be said that it is not only nature or not only nurture that determines the overall traits of a human being.
What affects Mental Health?
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