9- Nature vs Nurture Debate

Question 1

What do nativists believe?

Answer 1

Nature is the primary factor that influences physical, physiological and behavioural characteristics we develop- biologically genetically determined

Question 2

What do empiricists believe?

Answer 2

Nurture has a major role to play, we are born as a blank slate and everything that happens in our lives is shaped by the environment

Question 3

Who was the main innatist?

Answer 3

Plato

Question 4

Who was the main empiricist?

Answer 4

Aristotle

Question 5

6 characteristics influenced by nature

Answer 5

Eye colour
Height
Genetic disorders
Skin colour
Hair colour
Risk of heart disease

Question 6

8 characteristics influenced by nurture

Answer 6

Parenting style
Risk of cancers
Personality
Social attitude
Phobias
Bilingualism
Influence of language-rich environment
Prenatal alcohol

Question 7

Who coined the term ‘nature vs nurture’?

Answer 7

Galton

Question 8

What did Galton believe?

Answer 8

Human intelligence was largely a matter of nature- good genes with good genetic factor for a higher level of intelligence than high IQ

Question 9

How has Galton since been contradicted?

Answer 9

We now know that the environment also has a significant role to play in intelligence and there is an interaction between genetic and environment

Question 10

What was the eugenics movement focused on?

Answer 10

Ideas of genetic determinism and selective breeding- a population based only on those who had these kind of genetic factors determining high IQ, high success and attractiveness

Question 11

Who did the eugenics movement believe in sterilising?

Answer 11

People with learning disabilities and people considered less successful/intelligent