On the Assumptive Base of the Nature-Nurture Controversy: Additive versus Interactive Conceptions

This essay inquires into the major conceptual features of the nature nurture issue and explores theoretical, methodological, and empirical dimensions which derive from the conceptual.

Abstract

This essay inquires into the major conceptual features of the nature nurture issue and explores theoretical, methodological, and empirical dimensions which derive from the conceptual. It is maintained that the most basic issues are reflections of a paradigm clash between opposing world views. At the pretheoretical level the clash is represented by one perspective which asserts nature nurture to be additive and another which asserts they are interactive. Both within paradigm and between paradigm differences are discussed.