Nature versus nurture
Nature vs. Nurture
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 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.
What does the phrase "nature vs. nurture" get wrong?
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.
Article: psychologytoday.com