Nature Vs Nurture Cognitive Development

One of the longest debated issues in Psychological development is the Nature verses Nurture issue. The argument of whether cognitive development is based primarily on genetic makeup otherwise known as Nature, or the Nature argument; or whether development is based primarily on influenced learning from the environment, otherwise known as nurture, or the nurture argument. The definition of Cognitive Development is: “The process of acquiring intelligence and increasingly advanced thought and problem-solving ability from infancy to adulthood.” (Dictionary) There is a third theory of cognitive development derived from Nature theory and Nurture theory combined, known as the Nature plus Nurture theory.
The Nature theory states cognitive development

is emphasized by influences from hereditary, universal maturational processes.

(Rider) Examples of hereditary universal maturational processes are Genes, innate predisposition or biology based influences because of evolution. (Rider) Biologically based influences are things such as hormones and neurotransmitters. (Rider) These are viewed as natural aspect and innate; carried down with genetic code from person to person. Maturation is a common outlook in the Nature theory. Maturation is the biological unfolding of the individual according to a blueprint contained in the genes. (Rider) Maturation is change within the brain; when this occurs it is attributed to cognitive changes like increased memory capacity and problem solving skills. Maturation is also contributed to psychological developmental understanding. Such as why we as an individual understand how someone, as another individual, feels. This process is guided by genetic influences causing most individuals to develop cognitively in the same manner usually at the same points in life. (Rider) The process of Individual Hereditary Endowment; Hereditary Endowment are traits passed down from generation to generation. (Rider) This is where the Nature theory finds its uniqueness in people. (Rider) Linking

Physical and Psychological growth there is The prenatal period, Infancy, The Preschool period or Toddler period, Middle childhood, Adolescence, Emerging Adulthood, Early Adulthood, Middle Adulthood, and finally Late Adulthood. (Rider) Looking at these life periods using the Nature aspect one would expect everyone to hit the same developmental milestones at or around the same time. (Rider) An example using sexual intercourse derived from the nature standpoint would state that teenagers between the age of 13 and 17 most likely engage in intercourse because it is when their bodies are telling them it is time to do so because of puberty, which is a natural physical development of the human body. (Rider)
The Nurture theory states cognitive development is emphasized by external factors and is changes in response to the environment.

(Rider) External factors are influences that do not occur from within the individual but from elsewhere like the environment and others around you. (Alley) One example of the Nurture theory of cognitive development is if a child was learning to read, and the said child was exposed in a constant noisy environment and the child later in life was below the average in reading for his or her age group; this below average reading result would be because of exposure to said noisy environment from the child’s past. As a second example, that uses sexual intercourse looked at from the nurture standpoint would derive that teenagers between the age of 13 and 17 most likely engage in intercourse because of an exposure to sexual intercourse through the media, which is an environmental factor. (Rider) So rather this was by the Nature theory influenced from the environment, not genetic causation. In simple terminology the Nature theory states that when a baby is born that its mind is a blank slate and throughout life the baby will fill its mind with knowledge produced by the environment. (Simple) If someone had to choose one word to describe the Nature theory as a whole a good word to use would be learning. Learning is the foundation of the Nature theory.

(Simple)
Somewhere in between the two theories of Nature and Nurture there is the Nature plus Nurture theory. The Nature plus Nurture theory is the combination of the hereditary universal maturational processes, or Nature and learning from the environment, or Nurture. This is the combination of the two theories that uses aspects from both points. Usually from the Nature standpoint of maturation; when a person hits the same developmental milestone, and usually it is looked at from a physical standpoint such as the onset of sexual maturation. Pulled from the Nurture aspect; this theory believes heavily in environment influences regarding cognitive development. Whether someone who believes the Nature plus Nurture theory is bias towards Nature or towards Nurture most people from this theory believe in aspects of both theories as not to credit one over the other regarding cognitive development. An example of the Nature plus Nurture theory is the Bio-ecological model created by psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner. His theory uses a combination of the microsystem: an immediate physical and social environment. The mesosystem: the interrelationship between two or more microsystems. Finally his model uses the exosystem: which is a link that involves social settings not directly experienced by an individual. (Rider)
The Nature theory regarding cognitive development focuses with the belief that cognitive development derives from biological genetic influence. The Nurture theory regarding cognitive development focuses with the belief that cognitive development derives from learning; outside influences from the external environment. The Nature plus Nurture theory emphasizes that cognitive development comes from neither Nature theory nor Nurture theory alone, but that cognitive development comes from the combination of Nature theory and Nurture theory.