1. Nature vs. Nurture There are two theories upon which psychology is based; these two theories are called the Nature Theory and the Nurture Theory

2. Nature Theory Nature Theory : The belief that certain aspects of human behaviour are inborn The actions or aspects of one’s life can occur without being learned or discovered by the individual (ex. Blinking, reflexes, emotional responses, addiction)

3. Nurture Theory Nurture Theory : The belief that certain aspects of human behaviour are learned or developed through social interaction (ex. Wearing clothes, using proper table manners, criminal activity, etc.)

4. Innate behaviour It is believed that innate behaviour is a result of the individual’s genetic structure, including the traits that one inherits from his or her parents (ex. Animal instincts, development of senses, and possible addictions)

5. Humans as social beings Although we all have innate abilities from birth, it is also believed that we are naturally social beings; this is because it has been proven that without social interaction, human development is severely limited (ex. Isolated children, studies in early childhood development)

6. Competing theories or complementary ideas? The debate between the two theories is not a question of one or the other; rather, it should be viewed as two aspects of a complicated subject. Neither one can claim to be 100% correct! At best, human development should be viewed as a 50/50 mix.