Developmental Psychology

Nature vs nurture

Nature (Nativism)

• Development primarily determined by inherited factors.
• Anything produced by the predetermined unfolding of genetic information (Maturation)

Maturational theory - Darwin, Gessell and McGraw

• Development according to maturational timetables.
• Children's abilities pre-determined by genetic inheritance
• Teaching of little use if the appropriate maturational stage has not been reached.
• Maturational stages of development so discontinuous development.
• Both theories just differ to the extent to which nature and nurture affect development.

Nurture (Empiricism)

• Development…