The nature vs nurture debate is a long-standing discussion in biology and society about the relative influence of genetic inheritance and environmental conditions on human development. The debate is concerned with the relative contribution that both influences make to human behavior, such as personality, cognitive traits, temperament, and psychopathology. The term "nature" in this context refers to the influence of genetics, innate qualities, and biological factors on human development, behavior, and traits, while "nurture" refers to the environmental factors such as upbringing, culture, and experience.
The debate has been framed as a dichotomy between those who argue for the dominance of one source of influence or the other, but contemporary experts acknowledge that both nature and nurture play a role in psychological development and interact in complex ways. The strong dichotomy of nature versus nurture has been claimed to have limited relevance in some fields of research, as close feedback loops have been found in which nature and nurture influence one another constantly. In ecology and behavioral genetics, researchers think nurture has an essential influence on nature, and the dividing line between an inherited and an acquired trait becomes unclear, as in epigenetics or fetal development.
The nature vs nurture debate is concerned with understanding the causes of behavioral differences and has become a politically motivated dispute about distributive justice and power in society. The debate is still ongoing, and there is no clear consensus on the relative importance of nature and nurture in human development.
