Issues and Debates - nature vs nurture

Question 1

nature-nurture debate

Answer 1

is it biological or environmental factors that cause our behaviour?

Question 2

how has the nature-nurture debate been viewed in the past

Answer 2

they are two very separate things and they do not interact

Question 3

how is the nature-nurture debate seen now

Answer 3

they interact and are interdependent on eachother (interactionalist approach)

Question 4

case study that is interesting when discussing gender and the nature-nurture debate

Answer 4

David Reamer (1965). accident where he lost his penis, and was advised to raise him as a girl as gender is learned (nurture). however, this female identity felt uncomfortable and was more comfortable when was identifying as male again. suggests gender is biological

Question 5

the nature side - evidence, opinions and info

Answer 5

• Descartes suggested that some knowledge and all human characteristics are innate
• Plomin (1994) found that IQ is 0.5 heritability coefficient
• evolution does play role as some behaviours e.g. attachments are necessary for survival

Question 6

what is the best way to study the ‘nature’ debate and why

Answer 6

twin, family and adoption studies as they show concordance rates. e.g schizophrenia and criminal behaviour studies

Question 7

the nurture side - evidence, opinions and info

Answer 7

• Locke says the mind is a blank slate (tabula rasa)
• Lerner (1986) says there are different levels of the environment and these impact development e.g. mothers psychological state during pregnancy
• has lead to brutalist regimes -> Stalin’s reign teaching ‘perfect’ communism, ISIS conditioning to be terrorists

Question 8

Interactionalist approach

Answer 8

Nature creates nurture.
Belsky+Rovin (1987) = childs temperament is innate but how mother interacts with child = development. another example with warrior gene, abusive childhood and psychopathy

Question 9

epigenetics

Answer 9

change in genetic activity without change in genetic codes that leave marks on our genes and affect future generations. e.g. how tall someone is due to nutrition

Question 10

strengths of the nature-nurture debate

Answer 10

+ dichotomous view of behaviour benefits treatment. e.g. nature cause of OCD led to development of SSRIs
+ concordance rates in twins = higher so more nature based
+ nature and nurture interact through epigenetic modification