I&D Nature/Nurture debate and Holism and Reductionism

Question 1

What is the nature nurture debate ?

Answer 1

Concerns the extent to which a behaviour is a result of a persons genetic make up and the extent to which it is learnt through experience

Question 2

What is nativism ?

Answer 2

An emphasis on nature, and the idea that behaviour is a result of innate biological factors

Question 3

What is empiricism ?

Answer 3

An emphasis on nurture and the idea that behaviour is a result of external environmental factors. Empiricists would argue that babies are born as ‘blank slates’ and their individuality is a result of experience

Question 4

What is interactionism ?

Answer 4

The idea that nature and nurture actually interact with one another. It suggests the effects of nature and nurture should be considered together rather then separately

Question 5

How can heritability be assessed ?

Answer 5

Through twin studies

Question 6

What is reductionism ?

Answer 6

When a complex behaviour is broken down into its most basic parts

Question 7

What is holism ?

Answer 7

An argument or theory which argues it is inappropriate to break up experience or behaviour into parts, behaviour can only be understood meaningfully by considering it as a whole

Question 8

What level of explanation is reductionism associated with ?

Answer 8

Lowest levels as it breaks behaviour down into singular hormones or genes

Question 9

What level of explanation is holism associated with ?

Answer 9

Higher levels of explanation as it involves considering all factors in interaction

Question 10

Give a low level explanation

Answer 10

Biological explanations

Question 11

Give a middle level explanation

Answer 11

Psychological explanations- Cognitive/ behavioural/ environmental

Question 12

Give a high level explanation

Answer 12

Social and cultural explanations

Question 13

Give an example of biological reductionism

Answer 13

Explaining gender differences with the use of hormones

Question 14

What is environmental reductionism ?

Answer 14

Behaviour is explained in terms of specific experiences

Question 15

Give 3 advantages of reductionism

Answer 15

• More scientific
• Specific behaviours can be tested leading to cause and effect conclusions
• development of drug treatments

Question 16

Give an advantage of holism

Answer 16

• Considers interaction of factors (diathesis-stress model)

Question 17

Give a disadvantage of reductionism

Answer 17

• Accused of oversimplifying complex behaviours

Question 18

Give a disadvantage of holism

Answer 18

• They are much harder to test in a lab
• Unscientific