TheThe nature nature vs vs.. nurture nurture debate debate centers centers on on the the relative relative contributions contributions of of genetics genetics ( (naturenature)) and and environment environment ( (nnurturtureure)) to to human human development development.. Leading Leading theories theories include include:

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11.. BBiologicaliological Determin Determinismism:: Em Emphasphasizes geneticsizes genetics as as the the primary primary driver driver of of behavior behavior and and traits traits.. For For example example,, twin twin studies studies show show high high concord concordanceance rates rates for for traits traits like like intelligence intelligence and and personality personality in in identical identical twins twins,, even even when when raised raised apart apart.

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22.. BehaviorBehaviorismism:: Focus Focuseses on on environmental environmental influences influences,, arguing arguing that that behavior behavior is is learned learned through through conditioning conditioning and and experience experience.. John John Watson Watson’’ss famous famous claim claim,, “ “GiveGive me me a a dozen dozen healthy healthy infants infants,”,” illustrates illustrates the the belief belief in in nurture nurture’s’s power power to to shape shape individuals individuals.

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3.3. InteractionInteractionistist Perspective Perspective:: Most Most contemporary contemporary theories theories,, like like epigen epigeneticsetics,, argue argue that that nature nature and and nurture nurture interact interact dynamically dynamically.. Genes Genes may may create create predis predispositionspositions,, but but environmental environmental factors factors can can activate activate or or suppress suppress these these tendencies tendencies.. For For instance instance,, a a genetic genetic predisposition predisposition for for anxiety anxiety may may only only manifest manifest under under stressful stressful conditions conditions..

InIn summary summary,, while while early early theories theories leaned leaned heavily heavily toward toward one one side side,, modern modern approaches approaches recognize recognize the the interplay interplay between between genetic genetic and and environmental environmental factors factors in in shaping shaping human human development development..