FACTORS INFLUENCING GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT

Growth and development can be influenced by two sets of factors

 GENETIC OR INTERNAL FACTORS

 ENVIRONMENTAL OR EXTERNAL FACTORS

 Genetic factors are all those that have been transmitted by the parents to
the offspring.

 Environmental factors are all those elements found within the environment
and which in one way or other has an influence on the normal growth and
development of the individual.

The first set of factors cannot be easily modified. They are what we call
inherited characteristics and cannot be subjected to any form of modification.
They are also known as INNATE characteristics.

The second set of factors is those, which we call environmental factors. These
can be modified and individuals can be protected from their influence. These
are known as ACQUIRED characteristics.

These two sets of factors are at the basis of the well-known NATURE /
NURTURE controversy. There is still a debate on how much nature, that is the
innate factors and how much nurture, that is the acquired elements contribute
to personality, intelligence, creativity, activity level and other characteristics
found in individual human beings.

WHICH OF THE TWO SETS OF FACTORS HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE

ON THE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING?
CAN YOU IDENTIFY SOME OF THE FACTORS UNDER EACH HEADING
AND DESCRIBE AND DISCUSS ITS INFLUENCE ON THE OVERALL
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDALS?