nature vs nurture

by Natalie Cooper

Nature refers to the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are—from our physical appearance to our characteristics.

nature vs nurture

by Natalie Cooper

Nurture refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raised, our social relationships and our surrounding culture.

Nature vs Nurture is one of the oldest philosophical debates within Psychology. Which has a greater influence on our behaviour? Today, different branches of psychology take a ‘one versus the other’ approach. For example, biological psychology tends to stress the importance of genetics and biological influences. Behaviourism, on the other hand, focuses on the impact that the environment has on behaviour. Previously, debates often took a very divided approach, with one side arguing that nature played the most important role, and the other suggesting it was nurture. Today, most experts recognise that both factors play a crucial role. It’s also realised that both factors are involved in important ways throughout our lives.

For example, when a person achieves significant academic success, did they do so because they are genetically destined to be successful or is it a result of an enriched environment? If someone becomes abusive, were they born with violent tendencies or is it something they have learnt by observing behaviour during their childhood?

Copycat behaviour is common in children, proven by Banura’s Bobo doll experiment on social learning. This involved exposing children to two different adult models: an aggressive model and a non-aggressive one. After witnessing the adults’ behaviour, the children would be placed in a room without an adult figure and were observed to see if they would imitate the behaviours they had witnessed. As children saw the adults as role models, they would copy, with the experiment concluding in the children exposed to the violent model imitated the exact behaviour they had observed when the adult was no longer present. Therefore, this shows that when we are young, we tend to copy those around us, and this impacts the person we grow up to be.

Everyone’s opinions and experiences are different, and what makes us, us is truly unique. Lots of factors and events can shape who we are today, alongside our genetics which we are born with. On a personal level, I grew up without my mum, who sadly passed away when I was 6 months old. I was never old enough to remember her, let alone learn from her. I have half of her genetics and have many similar physical features, but I was never raised by her and didn’t share any early childhood experiences with her. However, we share similar mannerisms, little habitual gestures, and my ways of behaving mirror hers. Something which my dad cannot explain, or pinpoint. Despite only knowing her for the first 6 months of my life, at the age of 19, I do the same things as her and act like her. I was born with those quirks so therefore, your genetics surely have a powerful impact on your behaviour, more than you’d think. It makes my heart full that I can resemble her for those who knew her the most, keeping her memory alive.

I still don’t know which has more of an impact, nature or nurture, but at the end of the day, they both have significant impacts when shaping who we are today. We all experience many unique things during our lives, and that makes us so individually special. u