nature-nurture

Question 1

interactionist approach

Answer 1

how nature and nurture influence each other because it makes no sense to try and separate the two

Question 2

diathesis-stress model

Answer 2

interactionist approach - genes create a vulnerability and stressors in the environment trigger behaviours

Question 3

epigenetics

Answer 3

a change in our genetic activity without changing our genetic code
events switch genes on

Question 4

nature

Answer 4

heredity - characteristics are innate
eg intelligence determined by genes

Question 5

nurture

Answer 5

experience - environment shapes the mind
blank slate at birth

levels of environment include psychical, psychological, social

Question 6

measuring nature and nurture

Answer 6

heritability coefficient - proportion of differences between individuals in a population that is due to genetic variation

Question 7

adoption studies

Answer 7

P - strength into nature-nurture debate is use of adoption studies
E - separate the competing influence of nature and nurture - if adopted - children found to be more similar to their adoptive parents - environment is bigger influence
E - if more similar to biological parents then genetics - metaanalysis found genetic influence for 41% of variance in aggression
L - research can separate the influence of nature and nurture

P - research suggests this approach may be misguided
E - nature and nurture cannot be simply pulled apart
E - naturally aggressive child likely to feel more comfortable with children who show similar behaviours so choose environment accordingly - niche-picking
L - it does not make sense to look at evidence of either nature or nurture

Question 8

epigenics research

Answer 8

P - strength of debate is support for epigenetics
E - Nazi blocked food for dutch people - many died from starvation
E - women who became pregnant during famine had low birth weight babies and twice as likely to develop schizophrenia when grew up
L - life experiences of previous generations can leave epigenetic markers that influence health of offspring

Question 9

real-world application

Answer 9

P - strength is real-world application
E - OCD is highly heritable - heritability rate of .76
E - inform genetic counselling - those with high risk can receive advice about the likelihood of developing the disorder and how to prevent it
L - debate is not just theoretical but important at a practical level