Nature/nurture

Question 1

Nature position

Answer 1

We are the product of our genetic inheritance, how we behave is due to factors innate within us

Question 2

Nurture position

Answer 2

We are the products of our upbringings, such that how we behave is due to our personal encounters and experiences

Question 3

Nature strengths

Answer 3

-Supported by evidence of behaviour appearing difficult to change
-Can be useful, albeit only pointing towards genetic modifications or biological interventions
-Probably not ethnocentric as biological factors will affect people the same anywhere

Question 4

Nature weaknesses

Answer 4

-Of limited use-may not be possible to change a person’s nature
-Too reductionist: behaviour is too complicated to be attributed to single genes
-Could be socially sensitive if identifying a problem someone can’t change about themselves

Question 5

Nurture strengths

Answer 5

-Supported by evidence of behaviour being open to change (eg: social learning theory)
-Can be useful, suggesting ways to change behaviour by changing how a child id brought up

Question 6

Nurture weaknesses

Answer 6

-Might be ethnocentric as cultures will vary with how people are brought up within them
-Could be socially sensitive, leading children to blame their parents for how they were bought up