Blank page or Pre-printed script ?

[Lachlan09]

Are newborn babes a blank page whose entire cognitive existence will be conditioned by their surroundings, family values and personal experiences or do they come with some form of pre-programming ?

[tig]

bit of both id imagine.

they will jump at loud noises and still get the jerky thing when they sleep, both along with other things are pre programmed

but most other things will be learned by imitation

[apict]

First, I don't know. But, working with newborns, we commonly see evidence of "personality" very early on - sometimes even in pre-term babies. So I agree that it's likely a "bit of both" nature and nurture.
Another interesting question would be, "What exactly is the pre-programming?" Is it just DNA?
I suspect that the source of some of this "personality," and the source of "instinct" is, at least to a degree, more than just chemical.

[Cadbren]

I'd say both too. We are born with innate potential, our nature if you will. How we are then nurtured will determine how much of that nature will assert itself. Some parts of our nature are better suppressed than others whilst other parts are better encouraged and that determination will depend on the environment the person is being raised in.