There is an ongoing debate that continues today on whether human behaviour is a result of biological factors or if is affected by social or environmental influences. This debate is the nature versus nurture debate.
Nature:Those who argue from the nature point of view believe that the roles of instinct, fixed behavioural patterns, and evolution effect behaviour. An approach taken is known as socio-biology. Socio-biology focuses on genetic practices. It incorporates thought from ecology, evolution, ethology, and genetics. Many argue against this because socio-biology ignores history, social, economic, and political forces.
Nurture:Those
who argue in favour of the nurture perspective believe that human behaviour is
not connected to genetic influences. They
believe that an individuals’ behaviour and personality were moulded by society
and their environment. An approach
taken from this perspective is social or cultural determinism.
They believe that infants are born without significant genetic instincts.
As children they learn what is right and what is wrong.