Nature & Nurture
Nature and Nurture are the backdrop of most things discussed in psychology, as together they work to explain the sources of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. I am not particularly fond of the “nature” and “nurture” terms as they oversimplify what is actually very comprehensive and far-reaching concepts.
Nature
“Nature” refers to all things biological (genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones, organic brain changes), and is unfortunately often stated very simply: what you are born with. Be careful so you don’t oversimplify this…”what you are born with” can be modified at any point in your life, and this will further impact how you interact with the environment.
Nurture
The environment is what we are referring to when we say “nurture”, but this tends to go beyond what many people assume it to be. See, nurture is referring to all environmental influences one has ever been exposed to – all caregivers, parents, family members, teachers, coaches, etc. Nurture is also referring to every experience one has ever had. Many people think of the term “nurture” in a very positive light – after all it sounds so comforting…to be “nurtured”. However, it involves all the negative experiences too. So if someone experienced an event they perceived as difficult or terrible (for example, had experienced a form of assault), that too would fall under the category of “nurture”.
Interaction of Nature and Nurture
It is very important to know what the terms “nature” and “nurture” mean, and how they interact with one another. For example, the environment can shape or prevent the expression of some genes (like the development of schizophrenia). Just because we may have the genes and we think it “runs in our family”, environmental experiences have much to do with whether or not we ever develop the condition. Be comfortable with these concepts, as they will be the backdrop to practically everything I discuss in this section of the website.
Matthew A. Webster, MA, MS, ED.D, LPC
Martin Counseling, PLLC in Katy, TX.
Dr. Matt Webster is a professional educator, nutritionist, and therapist located in the Houston, Texas area. He specializes in couples therapy, sexuality, and maladaptive eating patterns with a focus on the role of nutrition. More About Matt >>
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