ABSTRACT
A central question for any developmental theory is the role that is assigned to environmental experience. What effect does it have on the course of development and on the level of developmental outcome? Where a theory comes down on this issue is what determines where it rests on the continuum that describes the parceling out of heredity and environment in resolving the nature-nurture controversy. Those at the nature end of the continuum typically believe that evolutionary and hereditary variables control both the course of behavioral development and the level of developmental outcome. Those at the nurture end of the continuum give a far greater functional role to environmental stimulation. In fact, however, all theoretical accounts of behavioral development give some functional role to the environment. The differences lie in the nature of that functionality and the determining role it plays in accounting for individual differences.
