Nature refers to the physical world around us, including its laws and processes.
Nature refers also to the processes within an organism that guide that organism to develop according to its genetic code.
In psychology, "nature" refers to the inherent characteristics or qualities that an individual possesses. Nature can refer to both physical characteristics, such as an individual's genetic makeup, and psychological characteristics, such as their personality traits or cognitive abilities. Here are a few examples of how "nature" might be used in the field of psychology:
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Nature versus nurture: This refers to the longstanding debate in psychology about the relative importance of nature (inherent characteristics) versus nurture (environmental influences) in shaping an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
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Nature of personality: Personality refers to an individual's unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Some theories posit that personality is largely influenced by inherent characteristics, or nature, while others suggest that it is more heavily influenced by environmental factors.
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Nature of intelligence: Intelligence refers to an individual's cognitive abilities, such as their ability to think, reason, and learn. Some theories suggest that intelligence is largely influenced by inherent characteristics, or nature, while others propose that it is more heavily influenced by environmental factors.
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Nature of mental disorders: Mental disorders are characterized by patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are distressful or disruptive to an individual's functioning. Some theories suggest that mental disorders are largely influenced by inherent characteristics, or nature, while others propose that they are more heavily influenced by environmental factors.