Nature vs. Nurture
Classroom Conversation
It's an average day at Woodlawn High School. The students are shuffling into Mr. Baker's psychology class before the bell rings. Mr. Baker wants the students to start the class by writing about differences between siblings. Take a moment to listen to the ensuing conversation. Click the player to begin.
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Nature vs. Nurture Debate
Do you think that people like allstar athletes, Nobel Prize winners, or famous writers are born or made? This is one of the biggest debates in the field of psychology. Stories of prodigies who excel in their field point to influences of both nature and nurture. Influences of nature refer to genetics, while influences of nurture refer to environment.
Hover your mouse over the image of the ballet dancers to reveal pieces of Li Cunxin's life story. As you learn about his background and ultimate success as a ballet dancer, consider whether you believe Li became a star because of his genetic makeup (nature) or his rigorous training (nurture).
Explaining Nature and Nurture
When you hear the word, nature, think about anything that refers to your heredity. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a molecule that includes instructions for your genetic makeup. Most DNA molecules are comprised of two strands that form a double helix, as depicted in the image on the left. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes, which are further broken down into units called genes. Most human cells contain forty-six chromosomes, organized into twenty-three pairs. One pair comes from your father, the other comes from your mother.
To learn more about DNA and DNA testing, view the video Personal DNA Testing from eMediaVA℠. As you watch the video, think about the following questions: What are some benefits to discovering details about your DNA? How can understanding your genetic makeup help you determine environmental influences in your life?
There are different complexities involved in nurture and nature. Nurture refers to environmental factors in your life, and includes all non-genetic influences. Even environmental influences that occurred while you were a fetus in your mother's womb, like whether she ate well, smoked, or drank alcohol during pregnancy, constitute nurture.
Studying Nature vs. Nuture
As you can tell, it is difficult for researchers to determine whether someone's traits come from an environmental influence or a genetic influence. To help uncover this mystery, behavior geneticists have come up with some innovative research methods. In this interactivity, you will examine some of these methods. Click the player to begin.
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Nature vs. Nurture Review
Now that you have learned about nature vs. nurture, it is time to review your knowledge. Take a moment to complete this non-graded activity. Click the player to get started.