Summary
Contents
This book has already proved itself as a course adoption leader in Childhood Studies. All of the strengths of the First Edition have been retained. The book is comprehensive and judged with the needs of students in mind. It is a model of clarity and precision and has been acknowledged as such in reviews and course feedback. The new edition thoroughly revises old entries and adds new ones. The book is the most accessible, relevant student introduction to this expanding, interdisciplinary field. It is an indispensable teaching text and an ideal prompt for researchers.
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature and nurture are often linked as an oppositional dichotomy in the debate about the extent of the impact of nature, or genetic predisposition, in determining the development of a child and her/his eventual adult self, as opposed to the impact of nurture; that is, of social, environmental and child-rearing influences.
The debate about nature vs. nurture is pivotal in understanding the human condition, but is perhaps most important in the exploration and analysis of childhood, the child, and the relationship between adults and children. The very fact that we can, and often do, refer to the concept of ‘human nature’ draws our attention to the belief that there are some fundamental and universally shared qualities in the nature of human ...
