C1 SA - Culture & Identity - Topic 3, Nature vs nurture debate

Question 1

Define socialisation:

Answer 1

The process by which individuals become educated about certain norms and values. It is also considered a life-long process as we are constantly surrounded by other cultures other than our own.

Question 2

Nature Debate

Answer 2

The biological view is that people are born with natural instincts and natural desires, e.g. mothers naturally fend and love their child according to their maternal instincts.

Question 3

Nurture debate

Answer 3

The sociological view is that our behaviour and characteristics are taught to us by those around us and our environment.

Question 4

Types of evidence used:

1) Feral children

Answer 4

1) Children with little/no human contact grew up with very different characteristics compared to the typical ‘normal’ human being. Supporting the nurture debate.

Question 5

2) Twin studies

Answer 5

Bouchard researched twins separated at birth and found they were very similar even though they were brought up in very different surroundings. Supporting the nature debate.

Question 6

3) Experiments

Answer 6

Dr John Money told parents to raise their son as a girl, it worked for a while (supporting the nurture debate) however he was proved wrong as the son ended up killing himself, saying in interviews that he always knew something was wrong, supporting the nature debate.

Question 7

4) Cross-cultural studies

Answer 7

Margaret Mead (1935) studied different tribes and found they all had different norms and values, supporting the nurture debate.

Question 8

Study - Skelton & Francis

Answer 8

Skelton & Francis - In primary schools, these two sociologists found that there was a form of gender socialisation within the playground as girls typically played dress up and boys would play football.

Question 9

Study - Sue Lees

Answer 9

She talks about there being double standards when it comes to men and women, e.g. women will be slut shamed if she were to be considered promiscuous whereas men would be praised.

Question 10

Study - Tony Sewell

Answer 10

People may have a cultural comfort zone and therefore feel more at ease when around individuals who may come from a similar background and upbringing to themselves.