The nature/nurture debate is a competition between what determines psychology and human behavior. There are those people who argue that human behavior and psychology is determined by biology including hormones, genetics, neurology etc. others think that psychology and human behavior is determined by the environment including culture, socialization and experiences. Nature refers to behaviors that are occurring naturally in humans. A good example is the need for love. Nobody teaches children that they need love. Nurturing on the other hand are behaviors learned. Sociologists are concerned with this debate because they want to determine what leads to certain behaviors in the society. Sociologists are concerned with the extent to which human behavior is a product of nature and nurture. Sociologists have different arguments and explanations concerning this topic.

The model of nurture/environment and nature/genes is used in behavioral genetics and has implications in public policy. A sociologist known Locke (1994) proposed that human beings are born as blank slates and everything is developed from experiences and social environment. In early years of a child, the idea of gender is not stereotyped in children. Children are treated as equals. Children in the same social settings are presented with a similar curriculum and resources of learning. These children will receive the same kind of information. However, it is noted that children develop at different rates showing different strengths and weakness even though they receive the same kind of information.

Galton, and Plato and Descartes (Chamberlain 1914) argued that humans are pre-determined at birth meaning that education, wealth and social traits are passed to children at birth. Huppert (2005) continues by suggesting that children who grow into good adults do so not, because of their nurturing but because of their genes. This suggests that human traits whether bad or good are passed through genes.

In the development science, sociologists argue that individuals are rooted in networks of relationships that encourage different aspects of behaviour. Different social institutions such as schools, workplace and families are filed with roles that children learn and fill. In line with this, individual differences are limited by roles demand in the prediction outcomes in development.

Sociologist has different explanations to this debate. There are those who believe that nature is the sole determinant of human behavior while other argues that people learn from their environment. However, there are those who argue that both nature and nurture are determinants of human behavior. Moore (2003) argues for equal billing. He argues that genes depend on the environment to be able to express themselves. This means that genetic traits are largely influenced by the social environment. For example, some people are born as social paths genetically. However, this trait fails to show due to the environment presented. It has been argued that the social path trait is ignited by child abuse or any other misfortune. The environment at which one grows will determine their traits. Other sociologists argue that different human behavior is determined by either nurture or nature. Some behaviors are inborn while others are learned.

References

Chamberlain, H. S. (1914)  Immanuel Kant VI: A Study And A Comparison With Goethe, Leonardo Da Vinci, Bruno, Plato and Descartes. The authorized translation from the German by Lord Redesdale with his introduction, The Bodley Head, London, (2 volumes).

Huppert, F. (2005) The Science Of Wellbeing. Edited by F Huppert, N Baylis and B Keverne. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Locke, J. (1994) Locke’s Philosophy Content And Text. Editor G. A. J. Rogers. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Moore, D. S. (2003) The Dependent Gene: The Fallacy Of Nature Vs Nurture. Holt Henry and Company Inc. New York

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