Issues And Debates - Nature Vs Nurture

Question 1

What is nature vs nurture?

Answer 1

A debate over whether behaviour is primarily influenced by genetic inheritance or environmental factors.

Question 2

What is the psychodynamic approach in terms of the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 2

Interactionist

Question 3

Evaluate the Interactionist approach

Answer 3

P: A strength is that the interactionist approach has real-world applications. In modern research, many psychologists believe that an interactionist approach should be taken which considers both nature and nurture aspects in shaping behaviour.
E: An example of this is the diathesis-stress model. It suggests that even if someone is born with a genetic vulnerability to a disorder such as OCD, OCD will only develop if it is triggered by an environmental stressor. This implies that one’s nature is only expressed under certain conditions.
E: Therefore, a strength is that the interactional approach has led to the development of models that have helped improve our understanding of psychological conditions and well as find treatment for them.