B1 - The Nature/Nurture Debate Flashcards
Nature vs Nurture
There has been a great debate about influences on human behaviour - referred to as the nature/nurture debate by psychologists. Nature = The genetic inheritance and other biological. Nurture = The influence of external factors after conception, such as the environment or social influences.
Certain physical characteristics are biologically determined by genetic inheritance, e.g. eye colour, having straight or curly hair, and skin pigmentation. Other physical characteristics appear to be strongly influenced by the genetic make-up of the birth parents, e.g. height, weight, life expectancy, and vulnerability to specific diseases. However, there is still a debate as to whether psychological characteristics - such as behavioural tendencies, personality traits, and mental abilities - are also ‘wired in’ before a child is born or whether they are influenced by their environment.
Bowlby’s theory of attachment is a biological perspective of development (nature) - mother-child bond explained as innate. Chomsky’s model proposes that we are born with a LAD so this also comes from a biological perspective. In contrast, Bandura’s social learning theory is based on an understanding that the environment influences development (nurture).
Characteristics and differences not observed at birth but which emerge later in life, are referred to as maturation - a genetically programmed sequence of change (e.g. the onset of menopause). The ‘nature’ perspective is based on an assumption that all individuals have an inner ‘biological clock’ that determines when and at what rate physical development will progress.
While the following theories are useful guidance, they do not provide the answers as to whether development throughout the lifespan is down to nature or nurture. It is probably more useful to assume that hereditary and environmental factors (nature and nurture) interact to influence the type of person an individual becomes and the type of behaviour they display.
Development as a result of genetic/inherited factors (nature)
Gesell’s maturation theory
Gesell was interested in children’s biological maturation so in the 1940s-50s he developed a new methodology or ‘normative approach’ to researching child development. This involved observing large numbers of children to find common skills/abilities among each age group. His findings were used to establish ‘norms’/milestones for each developmental aspect - but he noted that each child moved through the sequence at their own rate. Gesell concluded that development was predetermined and that the environment had little influence. If a child experiences delayed development, then the problem s heredity rather than the result of the child’s environment/circumstances. Critics of Gesell suggest that maturation theory isn’t helpful in explaining individual/cultural differences or for children with learning difficulties.
Development as a result of environmental factors
Bandura’s social learning theory (SLT)
Bandura’s theory is based on observations of learning occurring through observing the behaviour of others. E.g when a child models behaviours such as pretending to be on the phone or copying dance moves. Unfortunately, children may copy unwanted behaviour, such as hitting.
Bandura suggested that there are 4 stages of behavioural learning:
1) The child notices the behaviour of another person (likely to be someone close to them/who they admire).
2) The child ‘internalises’ the action by remembering what they observed.
3) They will reproduce the behaviour when the opportunity occurs - may not copy it straight away.
4) Depending on the outcome (positive/negative reinforcement) children will either repeat the behaviour or desist.
Bandura (1961) based his theory on his famous Bobo doll experiment, in which he demonstrates the children learn and copy aggressive behaviour by observing adults behaving aggressively. The importance of modelling appropriate behaviours is recognised by many teachers and parents.
Stress-diathesis model
This psychological model helps to explain how stress caused by life events (nurture) can interact with an individual’s genetic vulnerability (nature) to impact on their mental wellbeing. According to this theory, some individuals are born with certain biological/genetic predispositions to a mental illness - referred to as a diathesis. A person who has a genetic predisposition to a psychological disorder might never develop the disorder if they do not experience stress in their life. High levels of stress (e.g. family conflict, trauma or problems at school) could trigger the onset for those with a predisposition.
