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3 - The Contents and Discontents of the Nature–Nurture Debate

from Section 1 - The Underpinnings of Sex and Gender and How to Study Them

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2020

By
Steven W. Gangestad  and
Lei Chang
Edited by
Fanny M. Cheung  and
Diane F. Halpern
Fanny M. Cheung
Affiliation:
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Diane F. Halpern
Affiliation:
Claremont McKenna College, California
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Summary

Which more importantly contributes to who we are and how we behave, biological influences or socio-cultural–environmental influences? This question reflects the essence of the “nature–nurture debate,” as traditionally defined. This debate and its appropriate resolution have important implications. At the same time, the nature–nurture debate is not profitably framed in this traditional way. The traditional framing implicitly assumes that “biological” and “environmental” causes – “nature” and “nurture” – constitute separable causes, as, say, pieces of a pie can be sliced apart and separated. In fact, they are not separable. To understand the effects of “nurture,” one must understand outcomes of “nature.” Within a reframing of the nature–nurture debate, one can ask a number of questions about the roles that nature and nurture play. We describe these questions. And we discuss some implications for understanding the sexes and, specifically, women.

Keywords

Nature–nurture debatedevelopmental systemsheritabilityopen programs
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of the International Psychology of Women , pp. 27 - 36
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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Steven Gangestad is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico. He received his BA from Stanford University and his PhD from University of Minnesota. His research covers topics in evolutionary behavioral science, primarily on processes that affect human romantic relationships, which he has largely explored through frameworks inspired by evolutionary biology. He has published over 130 refereed journal articles with 26,500 citations, h-Index = 70, Google Scholar. He is currently Associate Editor of Psychological Science.

Lei Chang is Chair Professor of Psychology and Head of Department of Psychology, University of Macau. Born in China, Chang received his BA from Hebei University and his PhD from University of Southern California. He has previously taught at the University of Central Florida and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He conducts research in the areas of evolutionary psychology, including cultural evolution, life history, and mating research, and developmental psychology focusing on parenting, and child and adolescent social development. He has published over 200 refereed journal articles (70% in English outlets) with over 16,000 citations, h-Index = 54, by Google Scholar.

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