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“nature vs. nurture:” is depression genetic or environmental, what do you think of this article.

By Dr. David Woo - October 20, 2020

Nature vs Nurture: Is Depression Genetic or Environmental?

Nature vs. Nurture is a scientific debate that asks the question, “Is human behavior determined by a person’s environment, or by genetic predisposition?” Environment (nurture) refers to the external influences someone experiences, such as their home environment and childhood experiences. Genetic predisposition (nature) refers to the genes that a person inherits from their parents. 

Both environmental factors and genetics contribute to depression (a condition known to affect a person’s behavior, mood, and overall health), but is one more influential than the other? Let’s take a look at how each one can affect a person’s risk of developing depression. 

Nature: How Genes Contribute to Depression

Depression is known to run in families–people who have a direct relative (a parent or a sibling) who has been diagnosed with depression are up to three times more likely to develop depression.(1)

Multiple studies conducted throughout the years reveal that inherited genes play an important role in the development of depression. However, there is no one gene that, when inherited, significantly increases the risk of depression. Several genes have a small influence on the development of depression.(2) Results from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that analyzed the health records of over 1.2 million people tell us that there are 178 gene variants that can contribute to the genetic predisposition for depression.(3)

Nurture: How Our Environment Contributes to Depression

Researchers have established numerous environmental risk factors that contribute to depression, including:

  • Upbringing: Children who grow up with a parent who is depressed are at an increased risk for depression. Behavioral changes in a depressed parent can negatively affect their children and increase the risk that they’ll develop depression or another mental illness later in life. (4)
  • Trauma: Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in childhood increases the risk of depression. (5)
  • Negative lifestyle factors: Certain behaviors like overworking, abusing drugs and/or alcohol, and poor diet can contribute to depression.(6,7)
  • Major life events: Stressful life events such as job loss, divorce, and loss of a loved one can trigger depressive episodes.(8)

Depression Develops When There is an Interaction Between a Person’s Genetics and Environment

A combination of risk factors that includes both one’s environment (nurture) and genes (nature) is necessary for someone to develop depression–one is not more important than the other. Although certain genes can increase someone’s risk of developing depression, inheriting one does not guarantee you will develop the condition. If you inherit a gene associated with depression and are exposed to certain situations or trauma in your life, you may be more susceptible to developing depression. 

Additionally, a study published in 2016 suggests that a person’s environment can ‘override’ a genetic predisposition for depression. Researchers observed behavior in rats that were bred for depression. They found that providing a type of psychotherapy to rats that had an increased risk for depression alleviated their risk for depression.(9) This study suggests that depression may be able to be prevented in children with a high inheritable risk for depression using cognitive behavioral therapy.

Depression Treatment

If you believe you are at risk of developing depression, or if you notice signs of depression–like loss of interest in normal activities and/or hobbies, trouble concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness–, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will work with you to make a diagnosis and find the best treatment option for you. 

Patients who do not find relief from depressive symptoms with antidepressants or who are hesitant about the side effects associated with antidepressants can ask their doctor about TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) . TMS is a relatively new FDA-approved clinical depression treatment that uses magnetic stimulation to relieve depressive symptoms. Learn more about depression treatment in New York City .

1. Weissman MM, Wickramaratne P, Nomura Y, Warner V, Pilowsky D, Verdeli H. Offspring of depressed parents: 20 years later. Am J Psychiatry . 2006;163(6):1001-1008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16741200/. Accessed September 28, 2020.

2. Lohoff FW. Overview of the genetics of major depressive disorder. Curr Psychiatry Rep . 2010;12(6):539-546. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3077049/. Accessed September 28, 2020.

3. Levey DF, Stein MB, et al. Bi-ancestral depression GWAS in the Million Veteran Program and meta-analysis in >1.2 million individuals highlight new therapeutic directions. Nat Neurosci . 2021;24(7):954-963. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34045744/. Accessed September 22, 2022.

4. Mattejat F, Remschmidt H. The children of mentally ill parents. Dtsch Arztebl Int . 2008;105(23):413-418. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696847/. Accessed September 28, 2020.

5. Negele A, Kaufhold J, Kallenbach L, Leuzinger-Bohleber M. Childhood Trauma and Its Relation to Chronic Depression in Adulthood. Depress Res Treat . 2015;2015:650804. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26693349/. Accessed September 28, 2020.

6. Virtanen M, Ferrie JE, Singh-Manoux A, et al. Long working hours and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a 5-year follow-up of the Whitehall II study. Psychol Med . 2011;41(12):2485-2494. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3095591/. Accessed September 28, 2020. 

7. Rao TS, Asha MR, Ramesh BN, Rao KS. Understanding nutrition, depression and mental illnesses. Indian J Psychiatry . 2008;50(2):77-82. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738337/. Accessed September 28, 2020. 

8. Stroud K. Stressful Life Events and Depression. Clinical Science Insights: The Family Institute at Northwestern University. 2010;2014. https://www.family-institute.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/csi_stroud_stress_depression.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2020. 

9. N S Mehta-Raghavan, S L Wert, C Morley, E N Graf, E E Redei. Nature and nurture: environmental influences on a genetic rat model of depression. Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 29;6(3):e770. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27023176/. Accessed September 28, 2020.

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Psychiatry Online

  • February 01, 2024 | VOL. 181, NO. 2 CURRENT ISSUE pp.83-170
  • January 01, 2024 | VOL. 181, NO. 1 pp.1-82

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Is Depression Nature or Nurture? Yes

  • Myrna M. Weissman , Ph.D.

Search for more papers by this author

I’ve increasingly felt that the correct answer to the question “Is depression nature or nurture?” is “yes.” In a landmark study in this issue, Kendler and colleagues ( 1 ) put substance to this answer. While the answer may still be “yes,” through the use of a cleverly designed natural experiment, Kendler et al. have identified a portion of nurture, the rearing environment, that can clearly be defined and even altered with intervention. In brief, they studied 666 high-risk full siblings, with high risk defined as having at least one parent with major depression, and 2,595 high-risk half siblings of which at least one was home-reared and one adopted away. What made this study possible were the large samples from a national registry in Sweden, the parental assessments, and the fact that in Sweden, where adoption is not common, adoptive families are selected to provide high-quality rearing environments, including high educational status, economic security, and a stable environment.

It is impressive that this study comes from an investigator group that has done major genetic and twin studies. In both types of studies, the nature of the environment is unclear. Similarly, the adoption studies, another way of studying environmental effects, usually have had insufficient information on the biological parents and their clinical state. As the authors point out, biological parents of adoptees likely have a higher risk of psychopathology, less education, and higher divorce rates. Moreover, the environment in the adopted-away home has not been clearly defined in most studies. In fact, the authors previously carried out an extended adoption study in the same sample and had shown statistically that genetic factors and rearing experiences contributed to an approximately equal extent ( 2 ). Both forms of cross-generational transmission act additively on the risk for depression in the offspring. However, the contribution of the rearing environment was only shown statistically. These challenges in this and other previous reports must have led the authors to this study design.

The findings confirmed the strong protective effect of a nurturing rearing environment on the child’s well-being. However, this protective effect disappeared when an adoptive parent had major depression or the nurturing adoptive home was disrupted by parental death or divorce during the adoptee’s childhood or adolescence. The results demonstrate the strong impact of the rearing environment on risk for major depression and support the importance of intervention efforts to improve the rearing environment in high-risk families.

In other research, which the authors note, there is confirmatory evidence of the effects on children of alterations in a parental depressive status. Several studies have shown the positive effects on offspring of successful treatment of the parent’s depression ( 3 ). These effects can be sustained for at least a year after remission ( 4 ). The effect on offspring has been shown in trials treating depressed mothers with medication ( 5 , 6 ) or psychotherapy ( 7 , 8 ). The key component seems to be optimally delivered treatment reducing the symptoms of parental depression. How to deal with the effects of parental death and disruption of divorce will require different strategies. There is evidence that parenting interventions that improve the nurturance of the family environment are useful ( 9 , 10 ).

The importance of environmental effects or nurturing for general health has recently received broader attention outside of psychiatry. In a public health commentary in Science , Underwood ( 11 ) noted that in January 2020, California became the first state to screen for adverse childhood experiences. She described an ongoing clinical trial at University of California, San Francisco, to screen 550 families for adverse childhood events and to find out what interventions worked. Also, in January 2020, JAMA published a commentary describing adverse childhood experiences and their implication for clinical practice ( 12 ). These data on adverse childhood experiences came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were based on a survey of 150,000 adults in 25 states between 2015 and 2017. The article noted the impact of adverse childhood experiences on morbidity and mortality in a range of chronic medical illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, as well as suicide and drug overdose. The authors recommended routine screening by medical clinicians and having strategies for preventive interventions. They recommended that the “clinician in everyday practice talk to parents and caretakers about creating safe, stable, nurturing environments and protective relationships and reinforcing positive parenting techniques and coping skills at routine clinical visits” ( 12 , p. 26). These authors suggest clinical points of entry, different programs, and different screening tools. Such a wholehearted endorsement in nonpsychiatric journals demonstrates the timeliness and broad importance of Kendler and colleagues’ findings regarding nurturance.

One could, as in any study, discuss the limitations of this study. Kendler et al. noted as a limitation that measures of the quality of the rearing environment were only indirect. I would be curious about Sweden’s criteria and approach to determining that the adoptive home is able to provide a “high-quality and stable rearing environment.” High education and economic security, while measurable, are only part of the story. Information on a stable nurturing rearing environment and how to measure it would be useful for several domains.

More fruitful than study limitations is a consideration of future directions. Clearly, intervening effectively at critical developmental life points is obvious. But what about next steps in research? The first author has a strong track record in genetics, so this is likely on its way. But let’s speculate. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium came into existence in 2007 to fill the need for a global effort to obtain the large samples needed to define genetic variants in complex disorders using genome-wide association studies ( 13 ). Sufficiently large samples have been obtained to begin to define variants for major depression ( 14 ), which are now being used to calculate polygenic risk scores (PRSs) ( 15 ). The Scandinavian birth cohort studies, with their large samples, diagnostic data, and computerized records, have become an early source of PRS analysis in psychiatry ( 16 ). The environmental factors usually termed social determinants of health have been less well defined, and in some studies, they have been limited to education or measures of poverty. The Swedish cohort, with inclusion of parental death, divorce, home nurturing environment, and other personal determinants, may be an excellent source to determine the relative contribution of genes as utilized with PRSs and environment. While this work using PRSs may identify variants of depression that are more likely genetic, it will be a while until it will offer the kind of direct clinical information for intervention to improve the lives of vulnerable people.

The answer remains “yes”: depression is nature and nurture, and the relative proportions, for which types of depression, are under study. In the meantime, there are actions to take that will improve both medical and psychiatric health. This latest study by Kendler and colleagues clearly points to the role of the nurturing environment.

Supported by NIMH grant ROI MH.036177.

Dr. Weissman has received research funds from NIMH, the Sackler Foundation, and the Templeton Foundation; and she has received royalties from American Psychiatric Association Publishing, Oxford University Press, and Perseus Press and royalties on the Social Adjustment Scale from Multihealth Systems.

1 Kendler KS, Ohlsson H, Sundquist J, et al. : The rearing environment and risk for major depression: a Swedish national high-risk home-reared and adopted-away co-sibling control study . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:447–453 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

2 Kendler KS, Ohlsson H, Sundquist K, et al. : Sources of parent-offspring resemblance for major depression in a national Swedish extended adoption study . JAMA Psychiatry 2018 ; 75:194–200 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

3 Cuijpers P, Weitz E, Karyotaki E, et al. : The effects of psychological treatment of maternal depression on children and parental functioning: a meta-analysis . Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015 ; 24:237–245 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

4 Wickramaratne P, Gameroff MJ, Pilowsky DJ, et al. : Children of depressed mothers 1 year after remission of maternal depression: findings from the STAR*D-Child study . Am J Psychiatry 2011 ; 168:593–602 Link ,  Google Scholar

5 Weissman MM, Pilowsky DJ, Wickramaratne PJ, et al. : Remissions in maternal depression and child psychopathology: a STAR*D-Child report . JAMA 2006 ; 295:1389–1398 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

6 Weissman MM, Wickramaratne P, Pilowsky DJ, et al. : Treatment of maternal depression in a medication clinical trial and its effect on children . Am J Psychiatry 2015 ; 172:450–459 Link ,  Google Scholar

7 Swartz HA, Cyranowski JM, Cheng Y, et al. : Brief psychotherapy of maternal depression: impact on mothers and children . J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2016 ; 55:495–503.e2 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

8 Grote NK, Simon GE, Russo J, et al. : Incremental benefit-cost of MOMCare: collaborative care for perinatal depression among economically disadvantaged women . Psychiatr Serv 2017 ; 68:1164–1171 Link ,  Google Scholar

9 Goodman SH, Garber J : Evidence-based interventions for depressed mothers and their young children . Child Dev 2017 ; 88:368–377 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

10 Howard LM, Challacombe F : Effective treatment of postnatal depression is associated with normal child development . Lancet Psychiatry 2018 ; 5:95–97 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

11 Underwood E : Screen for childhood trauma triggers debate . Science 2020 ; 367:498 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

12 Jones CM, Merrick MT, Houry DE : Identifying and preventing adverse childhood experiences: implications for clinical practice . JAMA (Epub ahead of print, November 5, 2019) Google Scholar

13 Sullivan PF, Geschwind DH : Defining the genetic, genomic, cellular, and diagnostic architectures of psychiatric disorders . Cell 2019 ; 177:162–183 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

14 Milaneschi Y, Lamers F, Peyrot WJ, et al. : Genetic association of major depression with atypical features and obesity-related immunometabolic dysregulations . JAMA Psychiatry 2017 ; 74:1214–1225 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

15 Kaiser J : “Polygenic” analyses may sharpen disease risk predictions . Science 2019 ; 366:1431 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

16 Musliner KL, Mortensen PB, McGrath JJ, et al. : Association of polygenic liabilities for major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia with risk for depression in the Danish population . JAMA Psychiatry 2019 ; 76:516–525 Crossref , Medline ,  Google Scholar

  • New insights from the last decade of research in psychiatric genetics: discoveries, challenges and clinical implications 14 January 2023 | World Psychiatry, Vol. 22, No. 1
  • Ned H. Kalin , M.D.

depression nature or nurture essay

  • Depressive Disorders
  • Environmental Risk Factors

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Nature vs. Nurture

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

The expression “nature vs. nurture” describes the question of how much a person's characteristics are formed by either “nature” or “nurture.” “Nature” means innate biological factors (namely genetics ), while “nurture” can refer to upbringing or life experience more generally.

Traditionally, “nature vs. nurture” has been framed as a debate 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 Meaning of Nature vs. Nurture
  • The Nature-vs.-Nurture Debate
  • Identifying Genetic and Environmental Factors

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The wording of the phrase “nature vs. nurture” makes it seem as though human individuality— personality traits, intelligence , preferences, and other characteristics—must be based on either the genes people are born with or the environment in which they grew up. The reality, as scientists have shown, is more complicated, and both these and other factors can help account for the many ways in which individuals differ from each other.

The words “nature” and “nurture” themselves can be misleading. Today, “ genetics ” and “environment” are frequently used in their place—with one’s environment including a broader range of experiences than just the nurturing received from parents or caregivers. Further, nature and nurture (or genetics and environment) do not simply compete to influence a person, but often interact with each other; “nature and nurture” work together. Finally, individual differences do not entirely come down to a person’s genetic code or developmental environment—to some extent, they emerge due to messiness in the process of development as well.

A person’s biological nature can affect a person’s experience of the environment. For example, a person with a genetic disposition toward a particular trait, such as aggressiveness, may be more likely to have particular life experiences (including, perhaps, receiving negative reactions from parents or others). Or, a person who grows up with an inclination toward warmth and sociability may seek out and elicit more positive social responses from peers. These life experiences could, in turn, reinforce an individual’s initial tendencies. Nurture or life experience more generally may also modify the effects of nature—for example, by expanding or limiting the extent to which a naturally bright child receives encouragement, access to quality education , and opportunities for achievement.

Epigenetics—the science of modifications in how genes are expressed— illustrates the complex interplay between “nature” and “nurture.” An individual’s environment, including factors such as early-life adversity, may result in changes in the way that parts of a person’s genetic code are “read.” While these epigenetic changes do not override the important influence of genes in general, they do constitute additional ways in which that influence is filtered through “nurture” or the environment.

Photo by NEOSiAM 2020 from Pexels

Theorists and researchers have long battled over whether individual traits and abilities are inborn or are instead forged by experiences after birth. The debate has had broad implications: The real or perceived sources of a person’s strengths and vulnerabilities matter for fields such as education, philosophy , psychiatry , and clinical psychology. Today’s consensus—that individual differences result from a combination of inherited and non-genetic factors—strikes a more nuanced middle path between nature- or nurture-focused extremes.

The debate about nature and nurture has roots that stretch back at least thousands of years, to Ancient Greek theorizing about the causes of personality. During the modern era, theories emphasizing the role of either learning and experience or biological nature have risen and fallen in prominence—with genetics gaining increasing acknowledgment as an important (though not exclusive) influence on individual differences in the later 20th century and beyond.

“Nature versus nurture” was used by English scientist Francis Galton. In 1874, he published the book English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture , arguing that inherited factors were responsible for intelligence and other characteristics.

Genetic determinism emphasizes the importance of an individual’s nature in development. It is the view that genetics is largely or totally responsible for an individual’s psychological characteristics and behavior. The term “biological determinism” is often used synonymously.

The blank slate (or “tabula rasa”) view of the mind emphasizes the importance of nurture and the environment. Notably described by English philosopher John Locke in the 1600s, it proposed that individuals are born with a mind like an unmarked chalkboard and that its contents are based on experience and learning. In the 20th century, major branches of psychology proposed a primary role for nurture and experience , rather than nature, in development, including Freudian psychoanalysis and behaviorism.

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Modern scientific methods have allowed researchers to advance further in understanding the complex relationships between genetics, life experience, and psychological characteristics, including mental health conditions and personality traits. Overall, the findings of contemporary studies underscore that with some exceptions—such as rare diseases caused by mutations in a single gene—no one factor, genetic or environmental, solely determines how a characteristic develops.

Scientists use multiple approaches to estimate how important genetics are for any given trait, but one of the most influential is the twin study. While identical (or monozygotic) twins share the same genetic code, fraternal (or dizygotic) twins share about 50 percent of the same genes, like typical siblings. Scientists are able to estimate the degree to which the variation in a particular trait, like extraversion , is explained by genetics in part by analyzing how similar identical twins are on that trait, compared to fraternal twins. ( These studies do have limitations, and estimates based on one population may not closely reflect all other populations.) 

It’s hard to call either “nature” or “nurture,” genes or the environment, more important to human psychology. The impact of one set of factors or the other depends on the characteristic, with some being more strongly related to one’s genes —for instance, autism appears to be more heritable than depression . But in general, psychological traits are shaped by a balance of interacting genetic and non-genetic influences.

Both genes and environmental factors can contribute to a person developing mental illness. Research finds that a major part of the variation in the risk for psychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia can be attributed to genetic differences. But not all of that risk is genetic, and life experiences, such as early-life abuse or neglect, may also affect risk of mental illness (and some individuals, based on their genetics, are likely more susceptible to environmental effects than others).

Like other psychological characteristics, personality is partly heritable. Research suggests less than half of the difference between people on measures of personality traits can be attributed to genes (one recent overall estimate is 40 percent). Non-genetic factors appear to be responsible for an equal or greater portion of personality differences between individuals. Some theorize that the social roles people adopt and invest in as they mature are among the more important non-genetic factors in personality development.

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Nature, nurture, and mental health. Part 2: The influence of life experience

The first article in this series ( 1 ) covered the nature-related factors that can influence mental health. This article will focus on the nurture-related factors. It is the interplay of the environmental conditions to which we are exposed along with our genetic, psychological, and biological constitution that gives rise to the unique attributes that make each human being different from another. These attributes influence the extent to which we may be challenged by mental health problems or develop a mental illness.

Whether we thrive (or not) in life depends on the environments in which we are conceived, born, grow, learn, build a career and family, and age ( 2 ). The conditions and contexts of our lives — both social and physical — can either protect mental health or put it at risk. They can enable us to reach our highest potential or challenge us in ways that can leave us with troubles that can take a lifetime to heal. They shape our appreciation of life and what it may offer, including our values, morals, and worldviews.

Our life experiences, however, are not definitive in their influence. People naturally respond to the same circumstances in different ways. What may be an experience of significance for one person may not be for another, related, at least in part, to the unique aspects of their genetic, psychological, and biological constitution, reflecting again the intersectionality of nature and nurture. Likewise, we each have a unique life story, woven with its own players, plots and subplots. Such novelty makes any response possible.

The designs of our lives are unique and infinitely complex. Each person has a one-of-a-kind life story with parts both enabling and challenging. Our childhood experiences, so formative; the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of our lives; and the universally influential realities of social media, climate change, and the pandemic all can influence mental health. Each will be discussed in turn.

Adverse childhood experiences

Our experiences in childhood, particularly the traumatic ones, can have great influence on our lives. Traumatic experiences that occur before the age of 18 are called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) ( 3 ). ACEs fall into 3 domains (and 10 categories): abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual); neglect (emotional and physical); and household dysfunction (divorce, mental illness, substance abuse, violence, and incarceration among caregivers) ( 3 , 4 ). Although there is no national survey data on ACEs in Canada, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 61% of adults have at least one ACE and 16% have 4 or more types (categories) of ACEs ( 5 ). Women have higher overall ACE scores than men ( 5 ).

People who have experienced abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction during their childhood are at much greater risk of mental illness throughout life ( 4 ). There is a dose effect: the more categories of exposure a person experiences, the more likely he or she is to experience poor mental health ( 4 , 6 ), and alongside this, poor physical health, increased at-risk behaviors, and early death ( 7 ). These outcomes are thought to be associated with the effects of “toxic stress” on healthy brain development, affecting the development of socio-cognitive skills, which in turn, leads to poor choices in health habits and life decisions ( 3 ). Those with ACEs have an increased risk for, and incidence of, anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, and suicidality ( 8 , 9 ).

The ordinary to extraordinary experiences

The ordinary to extraordinary experiences of our lives that cause stress can impact us as well. It has long been recognized that stress plays a significant role in the development of mental disorders ( 10 ). A stressor can be thought of as a life event, or series of events, that disrupts psychological equilibrium, and in this, may catalyze a mental disorder ( 11 ).

Stressors can take the form of discrete events , such as relationship breakups, car accidents, complications during pregnancy, a death in the family, or the loss of a job. Stressors can also be more chronic circumstances , such as long-term illness, ongoing marital problems, perpetual workplace troubles, unending financial difficulties, or wider difficulties such as political strife and war ( 12 ). Stressors can also be the daily hassles , like keeping up with chores or meeting deadlines. Stressors — as discrete events, chronic circumstances, and daily hassles — can take their toll, causing stress that can culminate in a mental disorder.

Social media

Although social media can offer many benefits, with the ability to connect with anyone anywhere and with many people at the same time, building relationships and sharing information, it can also adversely affect mental health. It can incite “fear of missing out” (FOMO) and unhealthy social comparison ( 13 ). Many studies have found a strong link between heavy social media use and an increased risk for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicide ideation ( 13 ).

Cyberbullying is a real concern in the veterinary profession. A recent study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that 1 in 5 veterinarians has been a victim, or works with someone who has been a victim, of cyberbullying in the workplace ( 14 ). Incidents of bullying can range from the posting of negative reviews to threats of financial, physical, and/or emotional harm to veterinarians, their staff, and families. The stress of cyberbullying not only adds tension in the workplace, as a dark, hovering cloud, but can lead to depression and suicide.

Climate change

Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time. Since 2000, the frequency of climate change-related weather disasters has soared by 46% ( 15 ). Rising temperatures, heat waves, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, fires, loss of forest, and melting glaciers, along with the disappearance of rivers and desertification, can impact mental as well as physical health ( 16 ). Climate change can cause stress and distress, provoke high-risk coping behaviors (such as increased alcohol use), and lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts ( 16 – 18 ). Climate change can also affect mental health through the loss of jobs, social and community resources, and through forcing people to move ( 18 ). Among other populations that are especially vulnerable, those with pre-existing mental health disorders are disproportionately affected by the consequences of climate change ( 17 , 18 ).

Importantly, climate change can be experienced not only as a direct threat, but as a global or existential threat to civilization and ways of life ( 19 , 20 ). Awareness of the looming threats and impacts of climate change on the current and future well-being of the earth and its inhabitants can negatively affect emotional and social well-being ( 20 ). Climate change can contribute to several recently coined psychoterratic syndromes: ecoanxiety, ecoparalysis, solastalgia , and biospheric concern ( 16 , 19 ).

Ecoanxiety refers to the anxiety people face from constantly being surrounded by the ‘wicked’ and threatening problems associated with a changing climate. Ecoparalysis refers to the complex feelings of not being able to take effective action to significantly mitigate climate change risks. Solastalgia refers to the distress and isolation caused by the gradual removal of solace from the present state of one’s home environment ( 1 ). Lastly, biospheric concern refers to a type of stress that people feel when they see plants, animals and ecosystems that are vulnerable ( 16 ).

COVID-19 pandemic

The pandemic has profoundly affected people around the globe, causing high levels of stress, distress, fear, anxiety, and insomnia; especially with the uncertainties accompanying a new disease ( 21 , 22 ). Social distancing and widespread lockdowns; which constrained people’s ability to access support from loved ones, learn, work, and engage in their communities; added to the stress. These measures also led to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and for some, despair. On top of all of this has been the suffering with COVID-related illness and deaths. To date, over 37 000 Canadians (and 6 million worldwide) have died due to COVID-19 ( 23 ).

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide ( 24 ). Women have been more impacted (than men), as well as those with pre-existing health conditions (such as asthma, cancer, and heart disease). Young people have especially been affected, with a rise in the risk of self-harming and suicidal behaviors. Across the globe, people are looking for hope and signs of brighter days ahead as they navigate the challenges in a now much more complicated world.

Although many faced job loss, others faced greater demands, including those in the veterinary profession. Veterinary clinics around the world needed to implement new policies and procedures in response to the pandemic, including shifting to curbside care, practicing social distancing, intensifying sanitation measures, wearing personal protective equipment, and adopting new technologies such as virtual check-ins, telemedicine, and contactless payment. Many clinics initially dealt with restrictions on elective services, and, at times, had to limit the range and volume of services due to staff shortages or supply chain issues. Although the new ways of working reduced efficiency (decreasing the number of appointments that could be handled in a day), the demand for care rose, with reports of higher client numbers (with new adoptions) and earlier detection of health problems (with working from home), along with the need to attend to a backlog of postponed care. According to the 2020 CVMA Workforce Study, the veterinary profession appears to be working at, or above, capacity, with a shortage of veterinarians and technicians identified as one of the key challenges faced by the profession ( 25 ). The stress of substantial workplace modifications, heavy demands, shortage of staff, and serving a stressed, anxious, and demanding clientele, can predispose to burnout and/or culminate in a mental disorder.

Taking it from here

So, who are you in your world? What is it about you, meaning your genetic, psychological , and biological constitution , and your world, meaning your collective life experience , that may be influencing your mental health? Your understanding of this is the pivotal first step to better mental health. Awareness, however, is not enough; it needs to be allied with acceptance. In any given moment, we can lean in and accept or deny and avoid. Acceptance requires open, full acknowledgment of what is , with courage and authenticity. When we see with what is clarity, we will be able to see what we can do about it.

As mental health is determined by the combination of, and interaction between, personal and environmental factors, you may presume that there are some things that we can’t do anything about — like the hereditary predispositions that we are born with and the life experiences that have shaped us. These simply are , right? After all, you can’t trade in your brain for a different model! You can’t rewrite history! So, what can you do? The answer is simple.

“It’s not just what you were born with or what you’ve experienced that determines your mental health. It’s what you do with these. It’s how you live your life . And how you live your life is a matter of choice.”

The choices we make

You may think it’s the big decisions you’ve made over the course of your life that have shaped you into who you are today — what schools you went to, what vocation you chose, whether or who you married, whether you raised a family, how you grew your career, and the shifts you made to go in whole new directions. But in truth, it’s just the opposite. It’s all the thousands — if not tens of thousands — of microdecisions we make every day, which we are often unaware of, that most shape the course of our lives ( 26 ). These are the seemingly inconsequential decisions made all the time that, in fact, are of profound influence. Indeed, it’s the millions of microdecisions that pave the way for the macrodecisions.

The decisions you make add up to define how you live your life . To optimize your mental health begins with accepting that decisions matter , even — and especially — the decisions that you make every moment of every day. How do you live your life? Do you maximize your health potential? What can you do to maximize it? The next and final article in this series will offer a range of strategies to do just that; especially those to counter the nature and nurture aspects that increase the risk of mental illness. Through awareness, acceptance, and then action — taking the right steps — we can each optimize our mental health.

Use of this article is limited to a single copy for personal study. Anyone interested in obtaining reprints should contact the CVMA office ( gro.vmca-amvc@nothguorbh ) for additional copies or permission to use this material elsewhere.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate In Psychology

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

The nature vs. nurture debate in psychology concerns the relative importance of an individual’s innate qualities (nature) versus personal experiences (nurture) in determining or causing individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. While early theories favored one factor over the other, contemporary views recognize a complex interplay between genes and environment in shaping behavior and development.

Key Takeaways

  • Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors.
  • Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors after conception, e.g., the product of exposure, life experiences, and learning on an individual.
  • Behavioral genetics has enabled psychology to quantify the relative contribution of nature and nurture concerning specific psychological traits.
  • Instead of defending extreme nativist or nurturist views, most psychological researchers are now interested in investigating how nature and nurture interact in a host of qualitatively different ways.
  • For example, epigenetics is an emerging area of research that shows how environmental influences affect the expression of genes.
The nature-nurture debate is concerned with the relative contribution that both influences make to human behavior, such as personality, cognitive traits, temperament and psychopathology.

Examples of Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. nurture in child development.

In child development, the nature vs. nurture debate is evident in the study of language acquisition . Researchers like Chomsky (1957) argue that humans are born with an innate capacity for language (nature), known as universal grammar, suggesting that genetics play a significant role in language development.

Conversely, the behaviorist perspective, exemplified by Skinner (1957), emphasizes the role of environmental reinforcement and learning (nurture) in language acquisition.

Twin studies have provided valuable insights into this debate, demonstrating that identical twins raised apart may share linguistic similarities despite different environments, suggesting a strong genetic influence (Bouchard, 1979)

However, environmental factors, such as exposure to language-rich environments, also play a crucial role in language development, highlighting the intricate interplay between nature and nurture in child development.

Nature vs. Nurture in Personality Development

The nature vs. nurture debate in personality psychology centers on the origins of personality traits. Twin studies have shown that identical twins reared apart tend to have more similar personalities than fraternal twins, indicating a genetic component to personality (Bouchard, 1994).

However, environmental factors, such as parenting styles, cultural influences, and life experiences, also shape personality.

For example, research by Caspi et al. (2003) demonstrated that a particular gene (MAOA) can interact with childhood maltreatment to increase the risk of aggressive behavior in adulthood.

This highlights that genetic predispositions and environmental factors contribute to personality development, and their interaction is complex and multifaceted.

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Illness Development

The nature vs. nurture debate in mental health explores the etiology of depression. Genetic studies have identified specific genes associated with an increased vulnerability to depression, indicating a genetic component (Sullivan et al., 2000).

However, environmental factors, such as adverse life events and chronic stress during childhood, also play a significant role in the development of depressive disorders (Dube et al.., 2002; Keller et al., 2007)

The diathesis-stress model posits that individuals inherit a genetic predisposition (diathesis) to a disorder, which is then activated or exacerbated by environmental stressors (Monroe & Simons, 1991).

This model illustrates how nature and nurture interact to influence mental health outcomes.

Nature vs. Nurture of Intelligence

The nature vs. nurture debate in intelligence examines the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to cognitive abilities.

Intelligence is highly heritable, with about 50% of variance in IQ attributed to genetic factors, based on studies of twins, adoptees, and families (Plomin & Spinath, 2004).

Heritability of intelligence increases with age, from about 20% in infancy to as high as 80% in adulthood, suggesting amplifying effects of genes over time.

However, environmental influences, such as access to quality education and stimulating environments, also significantly impact intelligence.

Shared environmental influences like family background are more influential in childhood, whereas non-shared experiences are more important later in life.

Research by Flynn (1987) showed that average IQ scores have increased over generations, suggesting that environmental improvements, known as the Flynn effect , can lead to substantial gains in cognitive abilities.

Molecular genetics provides tools to identify specific genes and understand their pathways and interactions. However, progress has been slow for complex traits like intelligence. Identified genes have small effect sizes (Plomin & Spinath, 2004).

Overall, intelligence results from complex interplay between genes and environment over development. Molecular genetics offers promise to clarify these mechanisms. The nature vs nurture debate is outdated – both play key roles.

Nativism (Extreme Nature Position)

It has long been known that certain physical characteristics are biologically determined by genetic inheritance.

Color of eyes, straight or curly hair, pigmentation of the skin, and certain diseases (such as Huntingdon’s chorea) are all a function of the genes we inherit.

eye color genetics

These facts have led many to speculate as to whether psychological characteristics such as behavioral tendencies, personality attributes, and mental abilities are also “wired in” before we are even born.

Those who adopt an extreme hereditary position are known as nativists.  Their basic assumption is that the characteristics of the human species as a whole are a product of evolution and that individual differences are due to each person’s unique genetic code.

In general, the earlier a particular ability appears, the more likely it is to be under the influence of genetic factors. Estimates of genetic influence are called heritability.

Examples of extreme nature positions in psychology include Chomsky (1965), who proposed language is gained through the use of an innate language acquisition device. Another example of nature is Freud’s theory of aggression as being an innate drive (called Thanatos).

Characteristics and differences that are not observable at birth, but which emerge later in life, are regarded as the product of maturation. That is to say, we all have an inner “biological clock” which switches on (or off) types of behavior in a pre-programmed way.

The classic example of the way this affects our physical development are the bodily changes that occur in early adolescence at puberty.

However, nativists also argue that maturation governs the emergence of attachment in infancy , language acquisition , and even cognitive development .

Empiricism (Extreme Nurture Position)

At the other end of the spectrum are the environmentalists – also known as empiricists (not to be confused with the other empirical/scientific  approach ).

Their basic assumption is that at birth, the human mind is a tabula rasa (a blank slate) and that this is gradually “filled” as a result of experience (e.g., behaviorism ).

From this point of view, psychological characteristics and behavioral differences that emerge through infancy and childhood are the results of learning.  It is how you are brought up (nurture) that governs the psychologically significant aspects of child development and the concept of maturation applies only to the biological.

For example, Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory states that aggression is learned from the environment through observation and imitation. This is seen in his famous bobo doll experiment (Bandura, 1961).

bobo doll experiment

Also, Skinner (1957) believed that language is learned from other people via behavior-shaping techniques.

Evidence for Nature

  • Biological Approach
  • Biology of Gender
  • Medical Model

Freud (1905) stated that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality.

He thought that parenting is of primary importance to a child’s development , and the family as the most important feature of nurture was a common theme throughout twentieth-century psychology (which was dominated by environmentalists’ theories).

Behavioral Genetics

Researchers in the field of behavioral genetics study variation in behavior as it is affected by genes, which are the units of heredity passed down from parents to offspring.

“We now know that DNA differences are the major systematic source of psychological differences between us. Environmental effects are important but what we have learned in recent years is that they are mostly random – unsystematic and unstable – which means that we cannot do much about them.” Plomin (2018, xii)

Behavioral genetics has enabled psychology to quantify the relative contribution of nature and nurture with regard to specific psychological traits. One way to do this is to study relatives who share the same genes (nature) but a different environment (nurture). Adoption acts as a natural experiment which allows researchers to do this.

Empirical studies have consistently shown that adoptive children show greater resemblance to their biological parents, rather than their adoptive, or environmental parents (Plomin & DeFries, 1983; 1985).

Another way of studying heredity is by comparing the behavior of twins, who can either be identical (sharing the same genes) or non-identical (sharing 50% of genes). Like adoption studies, twin studies support the first rule of behavior genetics; that psychological traits are extremely heritable, about 50% on average.

The Twins in Early Development Study (TEDS) revealed correlations between twins on a range of behavioral traits, such as personality (empathy and hyperactivity) and components of reading such as phonetics (Haworth, Davis, Plomin, 2013; Oliver & Plomin, 2007; Trouton, Spinath, & Plomin, 2002).

Implications

Jenson (1969) found that the average I.Q. scores of black Americans were significantly lower than whites he went on to argue that genetic factors were mainly responsible – even going so far as to suggest that intelligence is 80% inherited.

The storm of controversy that developed around Jenson’s claims was not mainly due to logical and empirical weaknesses in his argument. It was more to do with the social and political implications that are often drawn from research that claims to demonstrate natural inequalities between social groups.

For many environmentalists, there is a barely disguised right-wing agenda behind the work of the behavioral geneticists.  In their view, part of the difference in the I.Q. scores of different ethnic groups are due to inbuilt biases in the methods of testing.

More fundamentally, they believe that differences in intellectual ability are a product of social inequalities in access to material resources and opportunities.  To put it simply children brought up in the ghetto tend to score lower on tests because they are denied the same life chances as more privileged members of society.

Now we can see why the nature-nurture debate has become such a hotly contested issue.  What begins as an attempt to understand the causes of behavioral differences often develops into a politically motivated dispute about distributive justice and power in society.

What’s more, this doesn’t only apply to the debate over I.Q.  It is equally relevant to the psychology of sex and gender , where the question of how much of the (alleged) differences in male and female behavior is due to biology and how much to culture is just as controversial.

Polygenic Inheritance

Rather than the presence or absence of single genes being the determining factor that accounts for psychological traits, behavioral genetics has demonstrated that multiple genes – often thousands, collectively contribute to specific behaviors.

Thus, psychological traits follow a polygenic mode of inheritance (as opposed to being determined by a single gene). Depression is a good example of a polygenic trait, which is thought to be influenced by around 1000 genes (Plomin, 2018).

This means a person with a lower number of these genes (under 500) would have a lower risk of experiencing depression than someone with a higher number.

The Nature of Nurture

Nurture assumes that correlations between environmental factors and psychological outcomes are caused environmentally. For example, how much parents read with their children and how well children learn to read appear to be related. Other examples include environmental stress and its effect on depression.

However, behavioral genetics argues that what look like environmental effects are to a large extent really a reflection of genetic differences (Plomin & Bergeman, 1991).

People select, modify and create environments correlated with their genetic disposition. This means that what sometimes appears to be an environmental influence (nurture) is a genetic influence (nature).

So, children that are genetically predisposed to be competent readers, will be happy to listen to their parents read them stories, and be more likely to encourage this interaction.

Interaction Effects

However, in recent years there has been a growing realization that the question of “how much” behavior is due to heredity and “how much” to the environment may itself be the wrong question.

Take intelligence as an example. Like almost all types of human behavior, it is a complex, many-sided phenomenon which reveals itself (or not!) in a great variety of ways.

The “how much” question assumes that psychological traits can all be expressed numerically and that the issue can be resolved in a quantitative manner.

Heritability statistics revealed by behavioral genetic studies have been criticized as meaningless, mainly because biologists have established that genes cannot influence development independently of environmental factors; genetic and nongenetic factors always cooperate to build traits. The reality is that nature and culture interact in a host of qualitatively different ways (Gottlieb, 2007; Johnston & Edwards, 2002).

Instead of defending extreme nativist or nurturist views, most psychological researchers are now interested in investigating how nature and nurture interact.

For example, in psychopathology , this means that both a genetic predisposition and an appropriate environmental trigger are required for a mental disorder to develop. For example, epigenetics state that environmental influences affect the expression of genes.

epigenetics

What is Epigenetics?

Epigenetics is the term used to describe inheritance by mechanisms other than through the DNA sequence of genes. For example, features of a person’s physical and social environment can effect which genes are switched-on, or “expressed”, rather than the DNA sequence of the genes themselves.

Stressors and memories can be passed through small RNA molecules to multiple generations of offspring in ways that meaningfully affect their behavior.

One such example is what is known as the Dutch Hunger Winter, during last year of the Second World War. What they found was that children who were in the womb during the famine experienced a life-long increase in their chances of developing various health problems compared to children conceived after the famine.

Epigenetic effects can sometimes be passed from one generation to the next, although the effects only seem to last for a few generations. There is some evidence that the effects of the Dutch Hunger Winter affected grandchildren of women who were pregnant during the famine.

Therefore, it makes more sense to say that the difference between two people’s behavior is mostly due to hereditary factors or mostly due to environmental factors.

This realization is especially important given the recent advances in genetics, such as polygenic testing.  The Human Genome Project, for example, has stimulated enormous interest in tracing types of behavior to particular strands of DNA located on specific chromosomes.

If these advances are not to be abused, then there will need to be a more general understanding of the fact that biology interacts with both the cultural context and the personal choices that people make about how they want to live their lives.

There is no neat and simple way of unraveling these qualitatively different and reciprocal influences on human behavior.

Epigenetics: Licking Rat Pups

Michael Meaney and his colleagues at McGill University in Montreal, Canada conducted the landmark epigenetic study on mother rats licking and grooming their pups.

This research found that the amount of licking and grooming received by rat pups during their early life could alter their epigenetic marks and influence their stress responses in adulthood.

Pups that received high levels of maternal care (i.e., more licking and grooming) had a reduced stress response compared to those that received low levels of maternal care.

Meaney’s work with rat maternal behavior and its epigenetic effects has provided significant insights into the understanding of early-life experiences, gene expression, and adult behavior.

It underscores the importance of the early-life environment and its long-term impacts on an individual’s mental health and stress resilience.

Epigenetics: The Agouti Mouse Study

Waterland and Jirtle’s 2003 study on the Agouti mouse is another foundational work in the field of epigenetics that demonstrated how nutritional factors during early development can result in epigenetic changes that have long-lasting effects on phenotype.

In this study, they focused on a specific gene in mice called the Agouti viable yellow (A^vy) gene. Mice with this gene can express a range of coat colors, from yellow to mottled to brown.

This variation in coat color is related to the methylation status of the A^vy gene: higher methylation is associated with the brown coat, and lower methylation with the yellow coat.

Importantly, the coat color is also associated with health outcomes, with yellow mice being more prone to obesity, diabetes, and tumorigenesis compared to brown mice.

Waterland and Jirtle set out to investigate whether maternal diet, specifically supplementation with methyl donors like folic acid, choline, betaine, and vitamin B12, during pregnancy could influence the methylation status of the A^vy gene in offspring.

Key findings from the study include:

Dietary Influence : When pregnant mice were fed a diet supplemented with methyl donors, their offspring had an increased likelihood of having the brown coat color. This indicated that the supplemented diet led to an increased methylation of the A^vy gene.

Health Outcomes : Along with the coat color change, these mice also had reduced risks of obesity and other health issues associated with the yellow phenotype.

Transgenerational Effects : The study showed that nutritional interventions could have effects that extend beyond the individual, affecting the phenotype of the offspring.

The implications of this research are profound. It highlights how maternal nutrition during critical developmental periods can have lasting effects on offspring through epigenetic modifications, potentially affecting health outcomes much later in life.

The study also offers insights into how dietary and environmental factors might contribute to disease susceptibility in humans.

Bandura, A. Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through the imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology , 63, 575-582

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Bouchard, T. J. (1994). Genes, Environment, and Personality. Science, 264 (5166), 1700-1701.

Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment. Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Loss . New York: Basic Books.

Caspi, A., Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Taylor, A., Craig, I. W., Harrington, H., … & Poulton, R. (2003). Influence of life stress on depression: moderation by a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene.  Science ,  301 (5631), 386-389.

Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic structures. Mouton de Gruyter.

Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax . MIT Press.

Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Edwards, V. J., & Croft, J. B. (2002). Adverse childhood experiences and personal alcohol abuse as an adult.  Addictive Behaviors ,  27 (5), 713-725.

Flynn, J. R. (1987). Massive IQ gains in 14 nations: What IQ tests really measure.  Psychological Bulletin ,  101 (2), 171.

Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality . Se, 7.

Galton, F. (1883). Inquiries into human faculty and its development . London: J.M. Dent & Co.

Gottlieb, G. (2007). Probabilistic epigenesis.   Developmental Science, 10 , 1–11.

Haworth, C. M., Davis, O. S., & Plomin, R. (2013). Twins Early Development Study (TEDS): a genetically sensitive investigation of cognitive and behavioral development from childhood to young adulthood . Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16(1) , 117-125.

Jensen, A. R. (1969). How much can we boost I.Q. and scholastic achievement? Harvard Educational Review, 33 , 1-123.

Johnston, T. D., & Edwards, L. (2002). Genes, interactions, and the development of behavior . Psychological Review , 109, 26–34.

Keller, M. C., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2007). Association of different adverse life events with distinct patterns of depressive symptoms.  American Journal of Psychiatry ,  164 (10), 1521-1529.

Monroe, S. M., & Simons, A. D. (1991). Diathesis-stress theories in the context of life stress research: implications for the depressive disorders.  Psychological Bulletin ,  110 (3), 406.

Oliver, B. R., & Plomin, R. (2007). Twins” Early Development Study (TEDS): A multivariate, longitudinal genetic investigation of language, cognition and behavior problems from childhood through adolescence . Twin Research and Human Genetics, 10(1) , 96-105.

Petrill, S. A., Plomin, R., Berg, S., Johansson, B., Pedersen, N. L., Ahern, F., & McClearn, G. E. (1998). The genetic and environmental relationship between general and specific cognitive abilities in twins age 80 and older.  Psychological Science ,  9 (3), 183-189.

Plomin, R., & Petrill, S. A. (1997). Genetics and intelligence: What’s new?.  Intelligence ,  24 (1), 53-77.

Plomin, R. (2018). Blueprint: How DNA makes us who we are . MIT Press.

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Szyf, M., Weaver, I. C., Champagne, F. A., Diorio, J., & Meaney, M. J. (2005). Maternal programming of steroid receptor expression and phenotype through DNA methylation in the rat .  Frontiers in neuroendocrinology ,  26 (3-4), 139-162.

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Waterland, R. A., & Jirtle, R. L. (2003). Transposable elements: targets for early nutritional effects on epigenetic gene regulation . Molecular and cellular biology, 23 (15), 5293-5300.

Further Information

  • Genetic & Environmental Influences on Human Psychological Differences

Evidence for Nurture

  • Classical Conditioning
  • Little Albert Experiment
  • Operant Conditioning
  • Behaviorism
  • Social Learning Theory
  • Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory
  • Social Roles
  • Attachment Styles
  • The Hidden Links Between Mental Disorders
  • Visual Cliff Experiment
  • Behavioral Genetics, Genetics, and Epigenetics
  • Epigenetics
  • Is Epigenetics Inherited?
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis
  • So is it nature not nurture after all?

Evidence for an Interaction

  • Genes, Interactions, and the Development of Behavior
  • Agouti Mouse Study
  • Biological Psychology

What does nature refer to in the nature vs. nurture debate?

In the nature vs. nurture debate, “nature” refers to the influence of genetics, innate qualities, and biological factors on human development, behavior, and traits. It emphasizes the role of hereditary factors in shaping who we are.

What does nurture refer to in the nature vs. nurture debate?

In the nature vs. nurture debate, “nurture” refers to the influence of the environment, upbringing, experiences, and social factors on human development, behavior, and traits. It emphasizes the role of external factors in shaping who we are.

Why is it important to determine the contribution of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture) in human development?

Determining the contribution of heredity and environment in human development is crucial for understanding the complex interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences. It helps identify the relative significance of each factor, informing interventions, policies, and strategies to optimize human potential and address developmental challenges.

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The Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Genetic and Environmental Influences and How They Interact

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

depression nature or nurture essay

Verywell / Joshua Seong

  • Definitions
  • Interaction
  • Contemporary Views

Nature refers to how genetics influence an individual's personality, whereas nurture refers to how their environment (including relationships and experiences) impacts their development. Whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in personality and development is one of the oldest philosophical debates within the field of psychology .

Learn how each is defined, along with why the issue of nature vs. nurture continues to arise. We also share a few examples of when arguments on this topic typically occur, how the two factors interact with each other, and contemporary views that exist in the debate of nature vs. nurture as it stands today.

Nature and Nurture Defined

To better understand the nature vs. nurture argument, it helps to know what each of these terms means.

  • Nature refers largely to our genetics . It includes the genes we are born with and other hereditary factors that can impact how our personality is formed and influence the way that we develop from childhood through adulthood.
  • Nurture encompasses the environmental factors that impact who we are. This includes our early childhood experiences, the way we were raised , our social relationships, and the surrounding culture.

A few biologically determined characteristics include genetic diseases, eye color, hair color, and skin color. Other characteristics are tied to environmental influences, such as how a person behaves, which can be influenced by parenting styles and learned experiences.

For example, one child might learn through observation and reinforcement to say please and thank you. Another child might learn to behave aggressively by observing older children engage in violent behavior on the playground.

The Debate of Nature vs. Nurture

The nature vs. nurture debate centers on the contributions of genetics and environmental factors to human development. Some philosophers, such as Plato and Descartes, suggested that certain factors are inborn or occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.

Advocates of this point of view believe that all of our characteristics and behaviors are the result of evolution. They contend that genetic traits are handed down from parents to their children and influence the individual differences that make each person unique.

Other well-known thinkers, such as John Locke, believed in what is known as tabula rasa which suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate . According to this notion, everything that we are is determined by our experiences.

Behaviorism is a good example of a theory rooted in this belief as behaviorists feel that all actions and behaviors are the results of conditioning. Theorists such as John B. Watson believed that people could be trained to do and become anything, regardless of their genetic background.

People with extreme views are called nativists and empiricists. Nativists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics are the result of inheritance. Empiricists take the position that all or most behaviors and characteristics result from learning.

Examples of Nature vs. Nurture

One example of when the argument of nature vs. nurture arises is when a person achieves a high level of academic success . Did they do so because they are genetically predisposed to elevated levels of intelligence, or is their success a result of an enriched environment?

The argument of nature vs. nurture can also be made when it comes to why a person behaves in a certain way. If a man abuses his wife and kids, for instance, is it because he was born with violent tendencies, or is violence something he learned by observing others in his life when growing up?

Nature vs. Nurture in Psychology

Throughout the history of psychology , the debate of nature vs. nurture has continued to stir up controversy. Eugenics, for example, was a movement heavily influenced by the nativist approach.

Psychologist Francis Galton coined the terms 'nature versus nurture' and 'eugenics' and believed that intelligence resulted from genetics. Galton also felt that intelligent individuals should be encouraged to marry and have many children, while less intelligent individuals should be discouraged from reproducing.

The value placed on nature vs. nurture can even vary between the different branches of psychology , with some branches taking a more one-sided approach. In biopsychology , for example, researchers conduct studies exploring how neurotransmitters influence behavior, emphasizing the role of nature.

In social psychology , on the other hand, researchers might conduct studies looking at how external factors such as peer pressure and social media influence behaviors, stressing the importance of nurture. Behaviorism is another branch that focuses on the impact of the environment on behavior.

Nature vs. Nurture in Child Development

Some psychological theories of child development place more emphasis on nature and others focus more on nurture. An example of a nativist theory involving child development is Chomsky's concept of a language acquisition device (LAD). According to this theory, all children are born with an instinctive mental capacity that allows them to both learn and produce language.

An example of an empiricist child development theory is Albert Bandura's social learning theory . This theory says that people learn by observing the behavior of others. In his famous Bobo doll experiment , Bandura demonstrated that children could learn aggressive behaviors simply by observing another person acting aggressively.

Nature vs. Nurture in Personality Development

There is also some argument as to whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in the development of one's personality. The answer to this question varies depending on which personality development theory you use.

According to behavioral theories, our personality is a result of the interactions we have with our environment, while biological theories suggest that personality is largely inherited. Then there are psychodynamic theories of personality that emphasize the impact of both.

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Illness Development

One could argue that either nature or nurture contributes to mental health development. Some causes of mental illness fall on the nature side of the debate, including changes to or imbalances with chemicals in the brain. Genetics can also contribute to mental illness development, increasing one's risk of a certain disorder or disease.

Mental disorders with some type of genetic component include autism , attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder , major depression , and schizophrenia .

Other explanations for mental illness are environmental. This includes being exposed to environmental toxins, such as drugs or alcohol, while still in utero. Certain life experiences can also influence mental illness development, such as witnessing a traumatic event, leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health Therapy

Different types of mental health treatment can also rely more heavily on either nature or nurture in their treatment approach. One of the goals of many types of therapy is to uncover any life experiences that may have contributed to mental illness development (nurture).

However, genetics (nature) can play a role in treatment as well. For instance, research indicates that a person's genetic makeup can impact how their body responds to antidepressants. Taking this into consideration is important for getting that person the help they need.

Interaction Between Nature and Nurture

Which is stronger: nature or nurture? Many researchers consider the interaction between heredity and environment—nature with nurture as opposed to nature versus nurture—to be the most important influencing factor of all.

For example, perfect pitch is the ability to detect the pitch of a musical tone without any reference. Researchers have found that this ability tends to run in families and might be tied to a single gene. However, they've also discovered that possessing the gene is not enough as musical training during early childhood is needed for this inherited ability to manifest itself.

Height is another example of a trait influenced by an interaction between nature and nurture. A child might inherit the genes for height. However, if they grow up in a deprived environment where proper nourishment isn't received, they might never attain the height they could have had if they'd grown up in a healthier environment.

A newer field of study that aims to learn more about the interaction between genes and environment is epigenetics . Epigenetics seeks to explain how environment can impact the way in which genes are expressed.

Some characteristics are biologically determined, such as eye color, hair color, and skin color. Other things, like life expectancy and height, have a strong biological component but are also influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle.

Contemporary Views of Nature vs. Nurture

Most experts recognize that neither nature nor nurture is stronger than the other. Instead, both factors play a critical role in who we are and who we become. Not only that but nature and nurture interact with each other in important ways all throughout our lifespan.

As a result, many in this field are interested in seeing how genes modulate environmental influences and vice versa. At the same time, this debate of nature vs. nurture still rages on in some areas, such as in the origins of homosexuality and influences on intelligence .

While a few people take the extreme nativist or radical empiricist approach, the reality is that there is not a simple way to disentangle the multitude of forces that exist in personality and human development. Instead, these influences include genetic factors, environmental factors, and how each intermingles with the other.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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What Are Nature vs. Nurture Examples?

How is nature defined, how is nurture defined, the nature vs. nurture debate, nature vs. nurture examples, what is empiricism (extreme nurture position), contemporary views of nature vs. nurture.

Nature vs. nurture is an age-old debate about whether genetics (nature) plays a bigger role in determining a person's characteristics than lived experience and environmental factors (nurture). The term "nature vs. nature" was coined by English naturalist Charles Darwin's younger half-cousin, anthropologist Francis Galton, around 1875.

In psychology, the extreme nature position (nativism) proposes that intelligence and personality traits are inherited and determined only by genetics.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the extreme nurture position (empiricism) asserts that the mind is a blank slate at birth; external factors like education and upbringing determine who someone becomes in adulthood and how their mind works. Both of these extreme positions have shortcomings and are antiquated.

This article explores the difference between nature and nurture. It gives nature vs. nurture examples and explains why outdated views of nativism and empiricism don't jibe with contemporary views. 

Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty Images

In the context of nature vs. nurture, "nature" refers to genetics and heritable factors that are passed down to children from their biological parents.

Genes and hereditary factors determine many aspects of someone’s physical appearance and other individual characteristics, such as a genetically inherited predisposition for certain personality traits.

Scientists estimate that 20% to 60% percent of temperament is determined by genetics and that many (possibly thousands) of common gene variations combine to influence individual characteristics of temperament.

However, the impact of gene-environment (or nature-nurture) interactions on someone's traits is interwoven. Environmental factors also play a role in temperament by influencing gene activity. For example, in children raised in an adverse environment (such as child abuse or violence), genes that increase the risk of impulsive temperamental characteristics may be activated (turned on).

Trying to measure "nature vs. nurture" scientifically is challenging. It's impossible to know precisely where the influence of genes and environment begin or end.

How Are Inherited Traits Measured?

“Heritability”   describes the influence that genes have on human characteristics and traits. It's measured on a scale of 0.0 to 1.0. Very strong heritable traits like someone's eye color are ranked a 1.0.

Traits that have nothing to do with genetics, like speaking with a regional accent ranks a zero. Most human characteristics score between a 0.30 and 0.60 on the heritability scale, which reflects a blend of genetics (nature) and environmental (nurture) factors.

Thousands of years ago, ancient Greek philosophers like Plato believed that "innate knowledge" is present in our minds at birth. Every parent knows that babies are born with innate characteristics. Anecdotally, it may seem like a kid's "Big 5" personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness) were predetermined before birth.

What is the "Big 5" personality traits

The Big 5 personality traits is a theory that describes the five basic dimensions of personality. It was developed in 1949 by D. W. Fiske and later expanded upon by other researchers and is used as a framework to study people's behavior.

From a "nature" perspective, the fact that every child has innate traits at birth supports Plato's philosophical ideas about innatism. However, personality isn't set in stone. Environmental "nurture" factors can change someone's predominant personality traits over time. For example, exposure to the chemical lead during childhood may alter personality.

In 2014, a meta-analysis of genetic and environmental influences on personality development across the human lifespan found that people change with age. Personality traits are relatively stable during early childhood but often change dramatically during adolescence and young adulthood.

It's impossible to know exactly how much "nurture" changes personality as people get older. In 2019, a study of how stable personality traits are from age 16 to 66 found that people's Big 5 traits are both stable and malleable (able to be molded). During the 50-year span from high school to retirement, some traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness tend to increase, while others appear to be set in stone.

Nurture refers to all of the external or environmental factors that affect human development such as how someone is raised, socioeconomic status, early childhood experiences, education, and daily habits.

Although the word "nurture" may conjure up images of babies and young children being cared for by loving parents, environmental factors and life experiences have an impact on our psychological and physical well-being across the human life span. In adulthood, "nurturing" oneself by making healthy lifestyle choices can offset certain genetic predispositions.

For example, a May 2022 study found that people with a high genetic risk of developing the brain disorder Alzheimer's disease can lower their odds of developing dementia (a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and social abilities enough to affect daily life) by adopting these seven healthy habits in midlife:

  • Staying active
  • Healthy eating
  • Losing weight
  • Not smoking
  • Reducing blood sugar
  • Controlling cholesterol
  • Maintaining healthy blood pressure

The nature vs. nurture debate centers around whether individual differences in behavioral traits and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture. Early philosophers believed the genetic traits passed from parents to their children influence individual differences and traits. Other well-known philosophers believed the mind begins as a blank slate and that everything we are is determined by our experiences.

While early theories favored one factor over the other, experts today recognize there is a complex interaction between genetics and the environment and that both nature and nurture play a critical role in shaping who we are.

Eye color and skin pigmentation are examples of "nature" because they are present at birth and determined by inherited genes. Developmental delays due to toxins (such as exposure to lead as a child or exposure to drugs in utero) are examples of "nurture" because the environment can negatively impact learning and intelligence.

In Child Development

The nature vs. nurture debate in child development is apparent when studying language development. Nature theorists believe genetics plays a significant role in language development and that children are born with an instinctive ability that allows them to both learn and produce language.

Nurture theorists would argue that language develops by listening and imitating adults and other children.

In addition, nurture theorists believe people learn by observing the behavior of others. For example, contemporary psychologist Albert Bandura's social learning theory suggests that aggression is learned through observation and imitation.

In Psychology

In psychology, the nature vs. nurture beliefs vary depending on the branch of psychology.

  • Biopsychology:  Researchers analyze how the brain, neurotransmitters, and other aspects of our biology influence our behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. emphasizing the role of nature.
  • Social psychology: Researchers study how external factors such as peer pressure and social media influence behaviors, emphasizing the importance of nurture.
  • Behaviorism: This theory of learning is based on the idea that our actions are shaped by our interactions with our environment.

In Personality Development

Whether nature or nurture plays a bigger role in personality development depends on different personality development theories.

  • Behavioral theories: Our personality is a result of the interactions we have with our environment, such as parenting styles, cultural influences, and life experiences.
  • Biological theories: Personality is mostly inherited which is demonstrated by a study in the 1990s that concluded identical twins reared apart tend to have more similar personalities than fraternal twins.
  • Psychodynamic theories: Personality development involves both genetic predispositions and environmental factors and their interaction is complex.

In Mental Illness

Both nature and nurture can contribute to mental illness development.

For example, at least five mental health disorders are associated with some type of genetic component ( autism ,  attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ,  bipolar disorder , major depression, and  schizophrenia ).

Other explanations for mental illness are environmental, such as:

  • Being exposed to drugs or alcohol in utero 
  • Witnessing a traumatic event, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Adverse life events and chronic stress during childhood

In Mental Health Therapy

Mental health treatment can involve both nature and nurture. For example, a therapist may explore life experiences that may have contributed to mental illness development (nurture) as well as family history of mental illness (nature).

At the same time, research indicates that a person's genetic makeup may impact how their body responds to antidepressants. Taking this into consideration is important for finding the right treatment for each individual.

 What Is Nativism (Extreme Nature Position)?

Innatism emphasizes nature's role in shaping our minds and personality traits before birth. Nativism takes this one step further and proposes that all of people's mental and physical characteristics are inherited and predetermined at birth.

In its extreme form, concepts of nativism gave way to the early 20th century's racially-biased eugenics movement. Thankfully, "selective breeding," which is the idea that only certain people should reproduce in order to create chosen characteristics in offspring, and eugenics, arranged breeding, lost momentum during World War II. At that time, the Nazis' ethnic cleansing (killing people based on their ethnic or religious associations) atrocities were exposed.

Philosopher John Locke's tabula rasa theory from 1689 directly opposes the idea that we are born with innate knowledge. "Tabula rasa" means "blank slate" and implies that our minds do not have innate knowledge at birth.

Locke was an empiricist who believed that all the knowledge we gain in life comes from sensory experiences (using their senses to understand the world), education, and day-to-day encounters after being born.

Today, looking at nature vs. nature in black-and-white terms is considered a misguided dichotomy (two-part system). There are so many shades of gray where nature and nurture overlap. It's impossible to tease out how inherited traits and learned behaviors shape someone's unique characteristics or influence how their mind works.

The influences of nature and nurture in psychology are impossible to unravel. For example, imagine someone growing up in a household with an alcoholic parent who has frequent rage attacks. If that child goes on to develop a substance use disorder and has trouble with emotion regulation in adulthood, it's impossible to know precisely how much genetics (nature) or adverse childhood experiences (nurture) affected that individual's personality traits or issues with alcoholism.

Epigenetics Blurs the Line Between Nature and Nurture

"Epigenetics " means "on top of" genetics. It refers to external factors and experiences that turn genes "on" or "off." Epigenetic mechanisms alter DNA's physical structure in utero (in the womb) and across the human lifespan.

Epigenetics blurs the line between nature and nurture because it says that even after birth, our genetic material isn't set in stone; environmental factors can modify genes during one's lifetime. For example, cannabis exposure during critical windows of development can increase someone's risk of neuropsychiatric disease via epigenetic mechanisms.

Nature vs. nurture is a framework used to examine how genetics (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) influence human development and personality traits.

However, nature vs. nurture isn't a black-and-white issue; there are many shades of gray where the influence of nature and nurture overlap. It's impossible to disentangle how nature and nurture overlap; they are inextricably intertwined. In most cases, nature and nurture combine to make us who we are. 

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By Christopher Bergland Christopher Bergland is a retired ultra-endurance athlete turned medical writer and science reporter. 

Causes of Depression: Nature vs. Nurture, Neurotransmitters vs. Inflammation

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Depression is a mood disorder that manifests as constant feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and anxiety that lasts for more than two weeks. It is one of the most common mood disorders in the world, effecting more than 264 million people worldwide. However, the cause of depression is a multi-faceted problem, oft debated amongst researchers.

Nature vs. Nuture Debate

One of the reasons why the cause of depression is often debated is because it can be either a biological or environmental cause. Environmental or “nurture” causes include:

  • Trauma and life circumstances. If you have experienced trauma, it can change how your brain responds to stressful situations. Your brain may triggered to a flight or fight response, or you may have overwhelming and constant worries that cause anxiety and depression. If you have experienced divorce, death or loss, that can also trigger depression episodes.
  • Substance abuse. Having a history of drug or alcohol abuse can trigger depression, with 21% of those who have had substance problems also experiencing depression.

Biological or physiological (“nature”) causes include:

  • Our genetics play a huge role in whether an individual develops depression—we are more likely to develop depression if it runs in the family.
  • Changes in hormones can affect how we feel, and ultimately bring about depression-like states. Circumstances like menopause and childbirth can all bring about depression.
  • Medical issues. If you have chronic pain, sleep issues or even attention-deficit disorder, you are more likely to develop depression.

Brain Chemistry vs. Inflammation

In addition to the nature vs. nature debate, researchers have also been digging deeper into the biological cause of depression, namely whether depression is caused by inflammation, brain chemistry, or both.

  • Brain chemistry. Depression is associated with how our pituitary gland and hypothalamus change our brain’s hormonal makeup. Neurotransmitters—the hormones developed by our brains—are chemical messengers that are thought to be mood-regulators, as well. Some research shows that an imbalance of neurotransmitters can cause depression-like symptoms.
  • There is some research to indicate that inflammation and depression are closely linked. For example, inflammation is elevated in those who suffer from depression vs. those who are not. A study of twins showed that the twin who had a higher measure of inflammation was more likely to develop depression in the future.

So, what’s the takeaway from all of this information? That there is still a lot we don’t know about depression and other psychiatric disorders. What we do know is that depression can be debilitating…and hard to treat. Talk therapy and medications fail for about 60% of patients. Fortunately, ketamine infusions have become widely available and offer hope to those with stubborn cases of depression. Up to 70% of patients experience relief after their initial series of ketamine infusions, with symptomatic relief becoming noticeable after 1-2 infusions.

If you are feeling depressed, we can help evaluate which depression treatment will work best for you, so you can start living a new life. Contact us today.

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Essay On Nature Or Nurture: What Feeds Human Depression?

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Depression , Genetics , Study , Suicide , Aliens , Stress , Nature , Life

Published: 01/13/2022

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Introduction

Aside from the fact that depression hinders people in reaching their full potential, it has been proven to cause premature death. According to Osby et al., “major depressive disorder among inpatients carries about a 20-fold risk of completed suicide” (as cited in Sokero et al. 2005). In order to effectively come up a resolution to this issue, the following questions need to be answered first: What feeds human depression? Is it nature or nurture?

According to Klaus Peter Lesch (2004), depression originated from “complex genetics and obscure neurobiology”. Based on his study, he confirmed that it is difficult to identify the “specific genetic factor” that leads to depression but a “variation in gene expression has been confirmed to play a predominant role” in the existence of this psychological issue (Lesch, 2004). Sullivan, Neale, and Kendler (2000), in their meta-analysis and review, also revealed that major depression “mostly or entirely results from genetic influences. In a systematic review of evidence, Bonde (2008) found that “perception of adverse psychosocial factors in the workplace is related to an elevated risk of subsequent depressive symptoms or major depressive episode.” In addition, a study conducted by Shapero et al. (2014) showed that stressful life experiences or events, an external factor, are linked with “an increase in depressive symptoms and the onset of major depression.” This is based on a multiwave study that investigated the changes in depressive symptoms in response to life stressors. Despite the differences in perspectives between the people who believe that depression is caused by either nature or nurture, I personally believe that the latter is mostly responsible for the issue. This is because even with the absence of a genetic or biological trigger, depression may still occur as a product or major life stressors or problems. In fact, a study proves the weakness of blaming depression to nature. Gregor Hasler reviewed neurobiological theories that attempted to explore the topic. The selected theories he reviewed, which investigated the roles of “stress hormones, neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), neurocircuitry, neurotrophic factors, and circadian rhythms” on depression revealed that there is no unified hypothesis that can explain depression (Hasler, 2010).

The studies of Lesch, Sullivan, Neale, and Kendler show that a person’s biological make up causes depression. On the other hand, the studies conducted by Bonde and the group of Shapero show otherwise. Their findings suggest that external factors cause depression. From a personal perspective, I believe that external factors are the major triggers of depression because these are highly uncontrollable and cannot be managed by medications. This is why depression continues to occur. Overall, it is not nature that feeds human depression – it’s nurture.

Bonde, J.P. Psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 65 (7), 438-445. DOI: 10.1136/oem.2007.038430 Hasler, G. (2010). Pathophysiology of depression: Do we have any solid evidence of interest to clinicians? World Psychiatry, 9 (3), 155-161. Lesch, K. P. (2004). Gene–environment interaction and the genetics of depression. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 29 (3), 174-184. Shapero, et al. (2014). Stressful life events and depression symptoms: The effect of childhood emotional abuse on stress reactivity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70 (30), 209-223. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22011 Sokero, T. P. et al. (2005). Prospective study of risk factors for attempted suicide among patients with DSM–IV major depressive disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 186 (4), 314-318. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.186.4.314

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Nature Vs Nurture Essay

Nature is the influence of genetics or hereditary factors in determining the individual’s behavior. In other words, it is how natural factors shape the behavior or personality of an individual. In most cases, nature determines the physical characteristics which in effect influence the behavior of an individual. Physical characteristics such as physical appearance, type of voice and sex which are determined by hereditary factors influences the way people behave.

Nurture on the other is the upbringing of an individual according to the environmental conditions. That is, the way individuals are socialized. Basically, nurture is the influence of environmental factors on an individual’s behavior.

According to this paradigm, an individual’s behavior can be conditioned depending on the way one would like it to be. Often, individuals’ behaviors are conditioned by the socio-cultural environmental factors. It is because of socio-cultural environmental conditions that the differences in the behavior of individuals occur.

Nature determines individual traits that are hereditary. In other words, human characteristics are determined by genetic predispositions which are largely natural. Hereditary traits are normally being passed from the parents to the offspring. They include characteristics that determine sex and physical make up. According to natural behaviorists, it is the genes that will determine the physical trait an individual will have. These are encoded on the individuals DNA.

Therefore, behavioral traits such as sexual orientation, aggression, personality and intelligence are also encoded in the DNA. However, scientists believe that these characteristics are evolutionary. That is, they change over time depending on the physical environment adaptability. Evolutionary scientists argue that changes in genes are as a result of mutations which are caused by environmental factors. Thus, natural environment determines individual characteristics which are genetically encoded in the DNA.

Conversely, individuals possess traits that are not naturally determined. These are characteristics that are learnt rather than being born with. These are traits which largely determined by the socio-cultural environmental factors or the way the individuals are socialized within the society depending on the societal values.

These traits are learnt as an individual develops and can easily be changed by the socio-cultural environment where the individual is currently staying. These characteristics include temperament, ability to master a language and sense of humor. Behavioral theorists believe that these traits can be conditioned and altered much like the way animal behavior can be conditioned.

From the discussion it can be deduced that individuals’ traits are determined by hereditary genes and at the same time can be natured. There are those traits that cannot be changed in an individual no matter what condition the person is exposed to. These traits are inborn and embed within the individual hereditary factors.

In most cases, they constitute the physical characteristics of an individual. They also determine the physical behaviors such as walking style, physical appearance and eating habits. At the same time there are learned characteristics which are normally being conditioned by the socio-cultural values. Individuals learn these traits from the way they are socialized within the immediate social or cultural environment. In other words, such behaviors are conditioned by the cultural values encouraged by the immediate society.

In conclusion, nature vs. nurture debate still remains controversial. However, all agree that nature and nurture play a crucial role in determining an individual’s behavior. Nature is associated with heredity roles in determining the individuals characteristics where as nurture is associated with the role of socio-cultural environment in determining the individuals behavior.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 29). Nature Vs Nurture. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/

"Nature Vs Nurture." IvyPanda , 29 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Nature Vs Nurture'. 29 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Nature Vs Nurture." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

1. IvyPanda . "Nature Vs Nurture." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Nature Vs Nurture." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/nature-vs-nurture/.

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Nature Vs Nurture Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on nature vs nurture.

The topic of nature vs nurture is always a great topic of debate among people. There are great men who did work hard to achieve great heights . But still, they are some people who didn’t work that hard yet still managed to be successful.

Nature Vs Nurture Essay

In other words, it is a debate between hard work and talent. In the grooming of a person, the nurturing is essential. However, still, there are some individuals who were never born in a great environment . Yet by their sense of knowledge and intellectualism created a special place in the hearts of people.

Nature has given us many things in life and one of them is talents. Either we are born as the only individual in our family or it is in our genes. Furthermore, nature plays a vital role in deciding the future of a child. Many singers in this era are born with beautiful voices. They did not need any nurturing. Their talent took them to heights they couldn’t even imagine.

For instance, some of the great legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishor Kumar had soulful voices. Also, they were the ones who sang from their childhood days. They started their careers and became successful at a very early age. Moreover, they did not get much teaching but still are the legends of all time.

Apart from singing, there are other talents that nature has given us. Various scientists like Albert Einstein , Isaac Newton , Galileo Galilei, started their work in their teenage years. They had amazing intellectualism, because of which they got recognition in their entire world. Furthermore, these scientists did not get any mentoring. They did everything on their own. Because they had extraordinary intelligence and ambition in life.

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On the other hand, the nurturing of a person is important. Because hard work beats talent. With proper mentoring and practice, a person can achieve success in life. If a person has an environment in which everybody is in the same profession and are successful in it.

Then there is a great chance that the person will land up in the same profession and will achieve heights. Because in that environment he will get proper nurturing.

Furthermore, he will also be able to perform better over the years. “ Hard work always pays off ”. This idiom is always true and nobody can deny that. If a person has true dedication then it can beat talent. Various singers, dancers, musicians, businessmen, entrepreneurs did work really hard for years.

And because of that, they got recognition in the entire world. In these categories, musicians are who achieved heights only with their hard work and constant practice.

It is true that there are no shortcuts to success. Various known legends like Bob Dylon. Lou Reed, Elvis Persley, Michael Jackson worked hard throughout their lives. As a result, they were some of the great personalities in the entire world.

Q1. What is the meaning of nurture?

A1. Nurture means the way a person grooms himself. This is done in order to achieve success. Nurturing is essential in a person’s life because it can be a way a person can cross the barrier and do something great. Moreover nurture also means the mentoring and care a person is getting in an environment.

Q2. What is the difference between Nature and Nurture?

A2. The main difference between nature and nurture is, nature is the talent a person inherits from his parents or is God gifted. While nurturing is hard work and mentoring of a person in a particular field. So that he may excel in that field.

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