S/PS/26. With reference to a variety of Domains within Psychology, Critically assess the nature-nurture Debate.

Nature vs. Nurture has been a long-standing debate since the 17th century. It refers to the degrees in which a person's natural 'nature' and the human experiences 'nurture' influence persons' physical and behavioural traits. It is crucial to begin by understanding and specifying what 'nature' and 'nurture' actually is before contemplating analysing and assessing this in depth debate. Nurture historically referred mainly to the care given to a child by their parents, also environmental factors (non-genetic) would class as 'nurture' also. Although 'Nature' on the other hand, refers to the biological state i.e. molecules, genes, atoms and everything else that biologically builds the human body and brain. It all began when the French philosopher Rene Descartes held out the notion that humans posses certain inborn ideas which eventually underpin peoples approaches to the world they are born into. On the other hand two English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke had a more empirical idea emphasising that the role of experience fully contributes to behavioural development. So many great minds have worked on this debate for over 300 years and so many different views and opinions have been put forth from Nativist or 'Naturist' who believe we are all born with a certain capacity to perceive the world in particular ways, and Empiricist or 'Nurturist' who perceive that all our knowledge and ability is acquired through experience. That is, they are learned. The aim of this essay is to look into a variety of different theories from different fields of psychology, from cognitive, biological, developmental and critically assess the issues involved.