Nature And Nurture Influences On Child 
Nature and Nurture Influences on Child Development
Amanda Brogdon
ECE205: Introduction to Child Development
Instructor Carrie Philips
September 16, 2014
Nature and Nurture Influences on Child Development When it comes to child development there are two major influences. These influences are nature which are traits we inherit and nurture which are the traits we learn. Nature and nurture are different in several ways but they both play an important role in child development. Although they both influence development the topic of which has the greatest influence in frequently debated. This paper will describe the relationship between nature and nurture, explain the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature and nurture, and discuss whether nature or nurture has the most influence on child development. Nature and nurture are different in several ways but share one similarity which is the fact that they both have an influence on child development. Both of them play an important role in how children develop as well as the type of people they will grow up to be. In the video “Nature vs. Nurture in Child Development” Shirael Pollack states that children are born with some traits and characteristics while they learn others (Pollack, S. n.d.). Nature is one(s) genes. The traits and characteristics that they inherit such as skin tone, eye color, and hair color. Nurture is what they are taught or what they learn from the people around them such as manners; learning to say “please” and “thank you”. There are different influences on child development in relation to nature and nurture. These influences are biological, environmental, societal, and cultural. Nature is responsible for the biological influences. Biological influences are traits that are passed parents to their children. They include appearance, talents, and abilities, and also certain illnesses (Groark, C., McCarthy, S. & Kirk, A.,
Amanda Brogdon
ECE205: Introduction to Child Development
Instructor Carrie Philips
September 16, 2014
Nature and Nurture Influences on Child Development When it comes to child development there are two major influences. These influences are nature which are traits we inherit and nurture which are the traits we learn. Nature and nurture are different in several ways but they both play an important role in child development. Although they both influence development the topic of which has the greatest influence in frequently debated. This paper will describe the relationship between nature and nurture, explain the biological, environmental, societal, and cultural influences on child development in relation to nature and nurture, and discuss whether nature or nurture has the most influence on child development. Nature and nurture are different in several ways but share one similarity which is the fact that they both have an influence on child development. Both of them play an important role in how children develop as well as the type of people they will grow up to be. In the video “Nature vs. Nurture in Child Development” Shirael Pollack states that children are born with some traits and characteristics while they learn others (Pollack, S. n.d.). Nature is one(s) genes. The traits and characteristics that they inherit such as skin tone, eye color, and hair color. Nurture is what they are taught or what they learn from the people around them such as manners; learning to say “please” and “thank you”. There are different influences on child development in relation to nature and nurture. These influences are biological, environmental, societal, and cultural. Nature is responsible for the biological influences. Biological influences are traits that are passed parents to their children. They include appearance, talents, and abilities, and also certain illnesses (Groark, C., McCarthy, S. & Kirk, A.,
References: Groark, C., McCarthy, S. & Kirk, A. (2014). Early child development: From theory to practice. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA. McDevitt, T.M. (2010). Nature and nurture: Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/nature-nurture/ Pollack, S. (n.d.). Nature vs. nurture in child development [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.howcast.com/videos/513307-Nature-vs-Nurture-Child-Development