The nature versus nurture debate is based on whether it is the environment or a child’s inherent characteristics that shape their personality and behavior (Croteau and Hoynes 149). Before proceeding, it is necessary to note that all children are born with the same combination of 46 chromosomes which creates the genetic basis for their subsequent growth and development. However, not all individuals are born equal wherein some have genetic traits (ex: height) that make them predisposed to having a distinct advantage over other people (ex: playing basketball). It is this concept of predisposition that is at the heart of the nature versus nurture debate since it implies that not only do people have innate biological characteristics or advantages that make them unique, it is also possible that they could have behavioral and psychological predispositions as well. This perspective is called biological determinism which ascribes to the ideology that all behaviors and abilities are innate and, as such, comes about as a direct result of genetic potential. However, counterarguments to this claim state that people are born as a “tabula rasa” or blank slate, a concept developed by John Locke. This perspective on human development posits that all people are born as blank slates and, as such, the development of their minds will come about through their own unique sensory experiences (i.e. interacting with people and their environment). This results in varying levels of emotional and behavioral development depending on the type sensory exposure that they encounter within a particular environment (Croteau and Hoynes 149). This concept adheres to the belief that behaviors are learned through exposure to the environment where a person grows up. For example, even if two individuals are remarkably similar to one another, including their physical characteristics and social backgrounds, if one grows up on the west coast and the other on the east coast, it is very likely that both of them will display markedly different social mannerisms, likes, dislikes, and colloquialisms. In fact, given the sheer variety of characteristics, behavior and psychological profiles of people in the same country yet living in different regions that are only a few hundred miles away from each other, shows the impact that the environment can have on a person’s emotional and psychological development. It is based on this that this paper asserts that nurture is far more applicable than nature when it comes to examining the behavioral, emotional and psychological growth of an individual. Justifying the Assertion To better understand the “nurture” aspect of human development, this paper will now examine learning theory and how it can be used as a way of understanding human intellectual growth and development. Learning theory states that language develops through learning and, as noted by various researchers examining language development among children, infants are only able to learn the different nuances inherent in words through reinforcement and imitation. As such, researchers state that continuous exposure to a language rich learning environment is necessary to develop the skills and knowled