The development of human behavior is a common topic of discussion in psychology. One of the most asked questions is whether nature or nurture has more impact on how people view and interact with the world. Here, nature refers to one’s genetic characteristics and biological traits. Nurture, in contrast, implies various social factors – experience, environment, learning, and communication. Such theories as social learning demonstrate the role of nurture in establishing human character and changing it under the influence of one’s surroundings.
Nature and nurture may impact different types of behavior and social interactions. First, science shows that people pass hereditary traits to their children that may affect their personality (Heyes, 2021). For example, children may show similar behavioral patterns to their biological rather than adoptive parents, even if they had not been raised by the former (Heyes, 2021). Similarly, it has been established that some mental health conditions are hereditary (Heyes, 2021). However, nurture is also a powerful influence on individuals from an early age. At a young age, children model their behaviors after their parents and people from their environment. Similarly, one’s geographic, social, economic, and cultural surrounding shapes their understanding of the world and influences core values, such as empathy, communication, learning, and more.
The theory of social learning highlights the incredible influence nurture can have on people’s behavioral development. According to this approach, people (especially children) acquire new behaviors by looking at and repeating after others. For example, if a young person sees other people being cruel towards animals or aggressive when responding to conflict, they may imitate this behavior in the future (Heyes, 2021). Similarly, observing acts of care and open communication may teach young people how to deal with conflict without negative emotions. Such a big difference in acquired behavioral patterns shows the extent of nurture’s influence on the human mind.
In conclusion, both nature and nurture affect human thinking to a certain extent. However, the role of nurture in behavioral development is more significant than nature due to the variety of human experiences and people’s need for communication. The social learning theory demonstrates how people learn through observation and imitation. The example of children acquiring specific responses and behavioral patterns when viewing different scenarios supports the leading influence of nurture over nature.
Reference
Heyes, C. (2021). Is morality a gadget? Nature, nurture and culture in moral development. Synthese, 198, 4391-4414. Web.