Discuss the nature - nurture debate (16)

Question 1

Outline nature side of debate

Answer 1

• our innate influences are referred to as nature
• nature side of debate argues that all behaviour is a product of biological/genetic factors
• family, twin and adoption studies have shown that the closer 2 individuals are genetically, the more likely it is that both of them will develop the same behaviours
  e. g. concordance rate for schizophrenia in MZ is 48%, 17% in DZ

Behaviours that promote survival are adaptive and are passed onto future generations via genetics

Question 2

Outline nurture side of debate

Answer 2

• environmental influences are acquired through interactions with the environment, referred to as nurture
• nurture side of debate argues that all behaviour is a product of learning (e.g. through upbringing, schooling, peers and family)
• behavioural psychologists say all behaviour can be explained in terms of experience along and how we have learnt through classical, operant and SLT

Question 3

Peel point 1

Answer 3

Important to acknowledge role of diathesis-stress model

A person can be born with a biological vulnerability e.g. gene for schizophrenia, however, the disorder will only develop if it is triggered by a stressor in the environment

Research has found that not everyone with genes for schizophrenia goes on to develop symptoms and therefore, a person’s nature is only expressed under certain environmental (nurture) conditions

This highlights the importance of taking an interactionist approach, such as the diathesis-stress model

Question 4

Peel point 2

Answer 4

Has been shown that nature can affect nurture and therefore, both sides of the debate should be acknowledged

An innately aggressive child may provoke aggressive responses in others, which affects the child’s experience

Alternatively, a mentally ill parent may pass on genes for a disorder as well as creating an unstable environment for the child

Both these influences show how nature can influence nurture and therefore the 2 cannot be separated

Question 5

Peel point 3

Answer 5

Has been shown that nurture can affect nature

Maguire et al (2000) showed how taxi drivers’ hippocampi responded (enlarged) due to increased use

Blakemore and cooper (1970) also found that kittens raised in restricted visual environment has permanent changes to their visual cortex

These examples show how experience (nurture) affects brain structure, which is originally coded for by genes (nature)

Question 6

peel 4

Answer 6

an interactionist approach would give the best explanation of behaviour

this is when it is not possible to separate either debate as they both contribute to behaviour so a combination of the two is the most appropriate in explaining and treating behaviour

for example, the disorder PKU is a genetic disorder (nature) but if it is identified at birth the infant can be given a restricted diet (nurture) to avoid brain damage

this highlights the importance of taking an interactionist approach when considering both nature and nurture