| Theory | Area of Focus | Fundamental Depiction of What People Do | Relative Emphasis on Nature or Nurture? |
|---|
| Psychoanalytic theory | Psychosexual (Freud) or psychosocial (Erikson) stages | Battle unconscious impulses and overcome major crises. | More nature (biological, sexual impulses, and parent–child bonds) |
| Behaviorism | Conditioning through stimulus and response | Respond to stimuli, reinforcement, and models. | More nurture (direct environment produces various behaviors) |
| Cognitive theory | Thinking, remembering, analyzing | Seek to understand experiences while forming concepts. | More nature (mental activity and motivation are key) |
| Sociocultural theory | Social context, expressed through people, language, customs | Learn the tools, skills, and values of society through apprenticeships. | More nurture (interaction of mentor and learner, within contexts) |
| Universal perspective | Needs and impulses that all humans share as a species | Develop impulses, interests, and patterns to survive and reproduce. | More nature (needs and impulses apply to all humans) |