Recurring Issues in Human Development. Three main issues dominate the study of human development:
- Nature vs. Nurture is the degree to which genetic influences (nature) or experiential influences (environment) determine the kind of person you are. Despite the ongoing debate as to which influence is greater, theorists and researchers recognize that virtually no features of life-span development are due exclusively to either heredity or environment. Development is always shaped by both—nature and nurture are mutually interactive influences
- Continuity vs. Discontinuity focuses on whether a particular developmental phenomenon represents a smooth progression throughout the life span (continuity) or a series of abrupt shifts (discontinuity). Continuity approaches emphasize quantitative change; discontinuity approaches emphasize qualitative change.
- Universal vs. Context-Specific Development focuses on whether there is just one path of development or several. In other words, does development follow the same general path in all people, or is it fundamentally different, depending on the sociocultural context?
