AO1: Socialists have a generally optimistic, positive view of human nature. AO2: All socialists believe that it is our environment within society that shapes human nature, which is naturally sociable and co-operative (Marx and Engels). AO3: Socialists therefore agree that society has a significant influence on human nature, and negative human behaviour is a result of this and not because human nature is itself negative. AO1: Socialists believe that cooperation benefits human nature more than competition. AO2: Socialists understanding of human nature is of people bound together with a common humanity, cooperating and working together. AO3: Socialists conclude that when people and communities work for the common good human nature is less competitive and more productive than when driven by competition (Webb). AO1: Socialists value the community, and a collective approach to society, which is at the heart of their view of human nature AO2: All socialists echo the thoughts of the poet John Dunne that 'no man is an island' as the individual is inseparable from society. AO3: Socialists therefore suggest that community and collective endeavour is at the root human nature.

AO1: Third way socialists are less optimistic than social democrats or revolutionary socialists about human nature AO2: Third way socialists have a less optimistic and cooperative view of human nature, giving more emphasis to how human nature can be problematic AO3: Hence, socialists are divided over the degree to which human nature is essentially positive AO1: Revolutionary socialists and social democrats are divided on the impact that capitalism has on human nature. AO2: Revolutionary socialists are adamant that human nature is damaged by inequality and the capitalist system, therefore if capitalism is abolished human nature will be transformed. By contrast social democrats suggest that although capitalism may limit human nature it does not need to be abolished in order to benefit human nature. AO3: We can conclude that this is a significant divide on the impact capitalism has on human nature. AO1: Third way socialists embrace the benefits of individualism more than social democrats and revolutionary socialists, emphasising communitarianism over common humanity. AO2: Revolutionary socialists and social democrats believe that there is a common humanity amongst all people which motivates humans to support each other. However, the Third Way's belief in communitarianism, indicates that humans should take greater responsibility for themselves and their community (Giddens) AO3: We can conclude that Third Way socialists are saying the power of the community is not always desirable, thus a collective approach is limited and individuals have a role to play.