Provides a brief history of the empiricism-nativism issue, considering present-day intellectual roots of nativist and empiricist inclinations. A schema is proposed for explaining the ontogenetic origin of an innate attribute or principle relevant to language. An attempt is made to explain the origin of primitives as derived by learning. (Contains…

Illustrates contribution of genetic and environmental factors to differential ratings of within-family behavior and environmental differences. Maintains that, assuming differential ratings are a linear function of underlying trait differences, it is simple to recover within-family statistics, offering a more legitimate basis than comparing mean…

Notes that research is confirming that much of what makes a person unique is the result of experiences in the first three years of life. Notes the long-term effects of inadequate nurturing, the role of extended family, and the challenges for parents, educators, and policymakers posed by these research findings. (HTH)

The contentious nature-nurture debate in developmental psychology is poised to reach a rapprochement with contemporary concepts of gene-environment interaction, transaction, and fit. Discoveries over the past decade have revealed how neither genes nor the environment offers a sufficient window into human development. Rather, the most important…

Argues that science, like any other human activity, is limited by the culture and the age to which it belongs. Examines the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station's conclusion that the IQs of young children were affected by specified environmental conditions in light of shifting perceptions of reality in the 1930s and 1940s. (Author/BE)

This study of creative genius argues that creativity can best be understood as a Darwinian process of variation and selection. The artist or scientist generates a wealth of ideas, and then subjects these ideas to aesthetic or scientific judgment, selecting only those that have the best chance to survive and reproduce. The book draws on the latest…

Refutes six common misconceptions about Piaget's theories, including their educational implications; Piaget's position on heredity v environment; and the relationships between developmental stages, age, and brain growth spurts. Condensed from "Impact on Instructional Improvement", Winter 1981, p7-11. (SJL)

Cites recent research indicating positive aspects of adoption for children. Examples from the life of congressman Jim Lightfoot are used to exemplify these positive aspects, which include increased self-confidence and affection for adoptive parents. (BC)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the interaction of biological unfolding and culturally related factors on sequences of narrative figure drawings by American and Egyptian elementary students. Findings support hypotheses relating to the interaction of natural and nurtural influences on children's drawings. (Author/SJL)

Encompassing only human and excluding animal studies, this review surveys the literature on protein-calorie malnutrition and its possible role in retarding psychological, intellectual or behavioral development. Areas reviewed include types of protein-calorie malnutrition, the effects of malnutrition on brain development, cross-sectional and…

Three studies of how heredity and environment affect child development are described. Suggestions for applying this knowledge to the management of camper behavior include asking about a child's environment on the camp health form, consulting parents and professionals about a child's behavior, providing loving and safe consequences, and making camp…

Investigation of infant development among African tribesmen discovered the development of emotional responses follows identical time schedules of youngsters in civilized society. It is suggested that behavioral development is linked to early anatomical changes in the brain. (SL)

Focuses on possibility that correlations between measures of environment and child devleopment can be mediated genetically as well as environmentally. Proposing an elementary model to test this hypothesis, data from classical adoption studies and new data from the Colorado Adoption Project are used to illustrate the model and provide quantitative…

Summarizes the contents of this special issue, discussing the major themes and issues addressed in the articles. Covers the following topics: (1) research agenda; (2) nature-nurture question; (3) knowledge base on child development; (4) societal changes; and (5) societal multiculturalism. (Author/BJV)