Brain Research - LTCY 199 - Summer 2009 - Nature vs Nurture

1. How the Brain is Wired:
Nature vs. Nurture
LTCY 199
Stephen Howard

2. Definition of
Nature/Nurture
 Nature: Also known as “nativism” or
“innatism”.
 The idea that traits or abilities are “native” or
coded into human brains at birth.
 Nurture: Also known as “empiricism” or
“behavioralism”.
 The idea that intelligence is obtained, not
through birth, but experience.

3. Tabula Rasa
 Term coined by John Locke, Latin for
‘blank slate’.
 Center of Nature v. Nurture Argument.
 Tabula rasa favors the idea of nurture.
 Occasionally considered irrelevant by
supporters of nature, because the cerebral
cortex has predefined programming.

4. Elaboration on Nature
 Supporters of nature, in the most pragmatic
form, believe that individuals are most influenced
by biological factors.
 Supporters of nature tend to cite the theories of
Freud, Piaget and Erikson
 Freud supports psychosexual ideology, which
believes that humans are fueled through lives via their
sexual desires.
 Erikson believes in psychosocial ideology, which
states that humans go through life, struggling to
obtain a suitable social status.
 Piaget will also be mentioned briefly, concerning his
studies on learning.

5. Erikson’s
Psychosocial Stages
 Infancy (Birth to 16 Months)
 Trust vs. Mistrust
 Early Childhood (2 to 3 Years)
 Autonomy vs. Shame and Misdoubt
 Preschool (3 to 5 Years)
 Initiative vs. Guilt
 School Age (6 to 11 Years)
 Industry vs. Inferiority
 Adolescence (12 to 18 Years)
 Identity vs. Role Confusion
 Young Adulthood (19 to 40 Years)
 Intimacy vs. Isolation
 Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 Years)
 Generativity vs. Stagnation
 Maturity (65 to Death)
 Ego Integrity vs. Despair
Hollitscher, W. (1970). Sigmund Freud, an introduction; a presentation
of his theory, and a discussion of the relationship between
psychoanalysis and sociology.

6. Freud’s Stages of
Psychosexual Development
 Oral, 0-18 Months.
 Focuses on the mouth.
 Anal, 18-36 Months.
 Focuses on urination and defecation.
 Phallic, 3-5 Years.
 Oedipus and Electra Complex.
 Latency, 6 Years-Puberty.
 Identified by suppression of sexual desires.
 Genital, Post-Puberty.
 Identified by the want to fulfill sexual desires.
Syque (2002-2009). Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory. Retrieved
July 9, 2009 from , Web site:
http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/freud_stage.htm

7. Piaget’s Stages
of Development
 Sensori-Motor
 Birth-2 Years
 Pre-Operational
 2-7 Years
 Concrete Operational
 7-11 Years
 Formal Operational
 11 Years-Onward
Atherton, J. (May 23, 2009). Piaget's Developmental Theory.
Retrieved July 9, 2009 from , Web site:
http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm

8. Concerning Nurture
 Science tends to have an obvious bias
towards nature, seeing nurture is difficult
to research.
 Majority of nurture research refers directly
to behaviorism

9. Behaviorism and
Behaviorism Theory
 Developed during 20th century.
 Behaviorism: ‘Response to Stimuli’.
 Common theory used in education.
 Several different ‘subcategories’ within the
behaviorism theory.

10. Behaviorism Subtopics
 Classical
 Methodological
 Radical
 Teleological
 Additional subtopics are cited, but these
subcategories are considered ‘standard’.
Culatta, R. (2009). Behaviorist Learning Theory. Retrieved July
Theory.
9, 2009 from , Web site:
http://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/behaviorism.html

11. Why Does This Matter?
 Learning about your nature, your nurture,
contributes to your self-awareness.
 Self awareness leads to self-actualization.
 Reaching self-actualization makes us
more proficient learners.

12. Works Cited
 Atherton, J. (May 23, 2009). Piaget's Developmental Theory.
Retrieved July 9, 2009 from , Web site:
http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm
 Tabula Rasa. Retrieved July 9, 2009 from Web site:
http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Tabula_rasa
 Hollitscher, W. (1970). Sigmund Freud, an introduction; a presentation
of his theory, and a discussion of the relationship between
psychoanalysis and sociology.
 Syque (2002-2009). Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory. Retrieved
July 9, 2009 from , Web site:
http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/freud_stage.htm
 McDevitt, T. M. & Ormrod, J. E. (2004). Child Development: Educating
and Working with Children and Adolescents (2nd ed.). Columbus,
OH: Pearson.