What is the difference between nature and nurture?

The nature vs nurture debate is about whether behaviour is caused by our genetics or whether all behaviour is learnt. Genetics refers to our DNA; what we are born with which is determined by our parents' DNA. This would be 'nature'. Some psychologists, for example John Watson, strongly believed that all behaviour is learnt from environmental influences; this would be 'nurture'. This includes experiences, family, and friends. Watson believed this so strongly that he famously stated 'Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select--doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief, and, yes, even beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors. I am going beyond my facts and I admit it, but so have the advocates of the contrary and they have been doing it for many thousands of years.'

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Answered by Lisa P. Psychology tutor

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