Nurture theory
The view that society & culture override human genetics &
instincts. It is argued that social expectations lead to
Nativism humans controlling their actions. We all eat; however,
Many of our physical characteristics are inherited. Certain where & how we do this vary considerably from culture to
personality traits appear to be linked to genetics, so people with culture. Whilst science might help explain some aspects of
specific genetic conditions may have an associated personality type human behaviour & support the case for nativists & nature
– people are 'hard-wired' to behave certain ways. theories, it does not entirely answer the question of why
Nativists take an extreme position with regards to genetics. They humans act as they do.
argue that the social characteristics of people have arisen through Sociologists tend to argue that cultural imperatives over-
evolution. Logically this leads to highly challenging political positions ride biology & that humans must learn their cultures from
such as the belief that women are hard-wired to domestic labour & others, through the process known as socialisation.
child-rearing while men are sexually aggressive. Such arguments Sociology tends to support nurture theory.
have been used to justify both the oppression of women & extreme
racist opinions.
Nature – nurture Feral children
One of strongest arguments in
favour of nurture theories. There
are occasional cases of children
who have been deprived of
Nature theories human society for some or all of
Less extreme than nativism, the view that human behaviour is their childhood years. Nature
prompted by biology rather than society is still significant. Such ideas Biological imperatives theories suggest that they should
appear in daily life through common expressions such as 'boys will be All animals have certain biological act in a human fashion because
boys'. The academic argument originates alongside theories of imperatives. These are the things they do behaviour is instinctive. The
evolution, & the position is that people are governed by instincts, which to survive & reproduce. Humans = eating reality is that many of these
are fixed patterns of behaviour that are inherited & influence human & sleeping. Nature theories suggest that children are seriously damaged;
actions. There is evidence drawn from psychologists which seem to humans are ruled by biological e.g., they do not acquire speech
suggest that certain characteristics such as intelligence are highly imperatives & -> do not have free will, & rarely behave according to the
inheritable from parents to children. However, the evidence is not so meaning they have no choice in their cultural norms for their society.
strong when one consider that intelligent parents may also have actions.
brought up their children in a way that reflects their intelligence.
The view that society & culture override human genetics &
instincts. It is argued that social expectations lead to
Nativism humans controlling their actions. We all eat; however,
Many of our physical characteristics are inherited. Certain where & how we do this vary considerably from culture to
personality traits appear to be linked to genetics, so people with culture. Whilst science might help explain some aspects of
specific genetic conditions may have an associated personality type human behaviour & support the case for nativists & nature
– people are 'hard-wired' to behave certain ways. theories, it does not entirely answer the question of why
Nativists take an extreme position with regards to genetics. They humans act as they do.
argue that the social characteristics of people have arisen through Sociologists tend to argue that cultural imperatives over-
evolution. Logically this leads to highly challenging political positions ride biology & that humans must learn their cultures from
such as the belief that women are hard-wired to domestic labour & others, through the process known as socialisation.
child-rearing while men are sexually aggressive. Such arguments Sociology tends to support nurture theory.
have been used to justify both the oppression of women & extreme
racist opinions.
Nature – nurture Feral children
One of strongest arguments in
favour of nurture theories. There
are occasional cases of children
who have been deprived of
Nature theories human society for some or all of
Less extreme than nativism, the view that human behaviour is their childhood years. Nature
prompted by biology rather than society is still significant. Such ideas Biological imperatives theories suggest that they should
appear in daily life through common expressions such as 'boys will be All animals have certain biological act in a human fashion because
boys'. The academic argument originates alongside theories of imperatives. These are the things they do behaviour is instinctive. The
evolution, & the position is that people are governed by instincts, which to survive & reproduce. Humans = eating reality is that many of these
are fixed patterns of behaviour that are inherited & influence human & sleeping. Nature theories suggest that children are seriously damaged;
actions. There is evidence drawn from psychologists which seem to humans are ruled by biological e.g., they do not acquire speech
suggest that certain characteristics such as intelligence are highly imperatives & -> do not have free will, & rarely behave according to the
inheritable from parents to children. However, the evidence is not so meaning they have no choice in their cultural norms for their society.
strong when one consider that intelligent parents may also have actions.
brought up their children in a way that reflects their intelligence.
