B1. Nature/Nurture Debate

Question 1

What is nature?

Answer 1

Physical characteristics which are biologically determined by genetic inheritance.​

Question 2

What is nurture?

Answer 2

The influences that an environment has on an individual including social and environmental factors. ​

Question 3

Give examples of biological physical characteristics ?​

Answer 3

Eye/hair colour​

Straight/curly hair​

Weight/ height​

Life expectance​

Skin pigmentation

Question 4

What nurture factors influence our behaviour?

Answer 4

Education ​

Parenting styles​

Social class​

Diet/exercise​

Environment ​

Religion

Question 5

What is maturation?

Answer 5

Characteristics and differences not observed at birth but which emerge later in life

Question 6

What theories are associated with nature vs nurture?

Answer 6

Gessell’s Maturation theory

Bandura’s Social learning theory​

Question 7

What did Gesssell look at?

Answer 7

Arnold Gesell looked into children’s biological maturation around the 1940’s – 1950’s.​

Question 8

What did Gessell develop?

Answer 8

He developed the ‘normative approach’ by observing large numbers of children to find the skills and abilities that most children had in each age group.

Question 9

What were Gessell’s findings?

Answer 9

Identifying norm’s or milestones for each developmental aspect. ​

A child moves through the sequence at their own pace. ​

Development was predetermined and that the environment had little influence.​

If a child experiences delayed development then the issue is one of heredity rather than the child’s environment. ​

A child should only be taught to complete tasks when they are physically and mentally ready to do so. Teaching a child to do something that is in advance of their developmental age would do them more harm​

Question 10

Give some positives of Gessell’s study

Answer 10

Developed social ‘norms’ – these are still used today.​

​The study was conducted over a LARGE number of children. ​

​He used new and innovative methods to conduct his research.

Question 11

Give some negatives of Gessell’s study

Answer 11

Did not consider individual differences.​

​Did not consider cultural differences.​

​Gesell believed that ‘norms’ or ‘ milestones’ were desirable ​

Question 12

What does Bandura’s Social Learning theory focus on?

Answer 12

Bandura’s social learning theory focuses on the environmental influences children learn from including imitation and role modelling. ​

Question 13

What is Bandura’s theory based on?

Answer 13

Banduras theory is based on observations of learning occurring through observing the behaviour of others.

Question 14

What is the sequencing for social learning theory?

Answer 14

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Reproduction
4. Motivation

Question 15

Describe attention (sequence)

Answer 15

The child notices the behaviour of another person.​

Question 16

Describe retention (sequence)

Answer 16

The child internalises the action/behaviour by remembering what they have observed.​

Question 17

Describe reproduction (sequence)

Answer 17

The child the child reproduces the behaviour not necessarily straight away but when the opportunity occurs. ​

Question 18

Describe motivation (sequence)

Answer 18

Depending on the outcome (positive/negative) reinforcement children will either repeat or not the behaviour. ​

Question 19

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 19

The behaviour is repeated because of personal satisfaction (intrinsic reinforcement) or rewards (extrinsic reinforcement).

Question 20

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 20

The behaviour is not repeated to avoid an adverse experience such as lack of satisfaction or to avoid being told off.

Question 21

Give examples of positive reinforcement

Answer 21

Star charts​
Certificates​
Praise​
Awards

Question 22

Give examples of negative reinforcement

Answer 22

Remove behaviours​
Replace with another behaviour​
Ignore behaviour

Question 23

What did Bandura base his theory on?

Answer 23

Bandura based his theory on a famous experiment using a Bobo doll in which he demonstrated that children learn and copy aggressive behaviour by observing adults behaving aggressively.

Question 24

What does the stress-diathesis model explain?

Answer 24

Explains how stress caused by life events (nurture) can interact with an individuals genetic vulnerability (nature) to impact on their mental well-being.

Question 25

What is genetic vulnerability?

Answer 25

A vulnerability to disorder through abnormality of the brain or neuro-transmitters.​

E.g. if your mother suffered with depression you could have a predisposition to depression.

Question 26

What does the theory suggest?

Answer 26

This theory suggests that some people have a certain biological or genetic predisposition to a psychological disorder. This is called diathesis. However, some people have protective factors that can stop them getting the mental illness.​

Question 27

Is stress nature or nature?

Answer 27

Nurture

Question 28

Is diathesis nature or nature?

Answer 28

Nature

Question 29

What is stress?

Answer 29

Traumatic events in a persons life e.g. relationships, culture, abuse.​

Question 30

What is diathesis?

Answer 30

a predisposition or vulnerability to mental disorders due to an abnormality in the brain.

Question 31

What is nativism?

Answer 31

This is when someone believes that the influence of development is INNATE.​

​That children have inherited skills, abilities and behaviours.

Question 32

Who studies Nativism?

Answer 32

Gesell​
Bowlby​
Chomsky

Question 33

What is nature vs nurture?

Answer 33

​Some theories believe that there is cause to mix the 2 theories and suggest that behaviours. Children will learn in stages, however they can be helped throughout the stages to develop new concepts.

Question 34

Give examples of the nature vs nurture debate

Answer 34

​Piaget​

Stress-diathesis model

Question 35

What is empiricism or behaviourism?

Answer 35

This is when someone believes that a person’s behaviour is solely influenced by their environment and nurturing.

Question 36

Who agrees with empiricism/behaviourism?

Answer 36

Bandura