Nature - Nurture

Question 1

nature

Answer 1

= the view that behaviour is a product of genetic or innate biological factors (nativist position)

Question 2

heredity

Answer 2

= process by which traits are carried down from one generation the next (genetic inheritance)

Question 3

nurture

Answer 3

= the view that behaviour is a product of environmental influences (e.g. people, events, physical world)

Question 4

environment

Answer 4

= any influence on human behaviour that is not genetic - e.g. environment in womb, cultural + historical influences

Question 5

interactionist approach

Answer 5

= the view that both nature + nurture interact + work together to shape human behaviour

Question 6

diathesis-stress

Answer 6

= psychological theory that attempts to explain cause of a disorder as result of interaction between pre-dispositional vulnerability (diathesis) + stress caused by life experiences (stress)

Question 7

nature - assumptions…

Answer 7

…characteristics of human species are product of evolution + indiv differences are result of each person’s unique genetic code

Question 8

nature - heredity characteristics…

Answer 8

…height, weight, hair loss, life expectancy + vulnerability to specific illnesses are positively correlated w/ genetic relatedness

– characteristics not observable at birth but which emerge in later life are product of maturation

Question 9

nature - attachment…

Answer 9

…Bowlby proposed children come into world biologically programmed to form attachments to help them survive

– suggests attachment behaviours are naturally selected + passed on as a result of genetic inheritance

– supported by Lorenz + Harlow - support for influence of nature in attachment behaviour

Question 10

nature - schizophrenia…

Answer 10

…family, twin + adoption studies show that closer relatedness means more likely to show same behaviours

– Gottesman - 40 family studies + found risk increases to 46% when both parents have Sz - emphasises importance of genetics + so provides evidence for nature

Question 11

nurture - assumptions…

Answer 11

…environmentalists (aka empiricists) hold assumption that human mind is a tabula rasa (blank slate) that is gradually filled as result of experience - John Locke (17th century) + taken up by behavioural psychologists (John Watson)

– characteristics that emerge through infancy + childhood are the result of learning

Question 12

nurture - attachment…

Answer 12

…behavioural psychologists explain it in terms of conditioning where food (UCS) is associated w/ mother (NS) + through repeated pairings mother becomes CS who elicits CR in child

– therefore child forms attachment based on pleasure experienced as result of being fed - supports role of nurture

Question 13

nurture - schizophrenia…

Answer 13

…Bateson et al proposed the ‘double bind theory’ which suggests Sz is result of disordered communication w/in family environment - children receive mixed signals about right + wrong + become confused about world

– prolonged exposure prevents development of coherent construction of reality + in long run manifests itself as Sz symptoms - supports role of nurture + environment

Question 14

implication - evidence of interaction…

Answer 14

…Maguire investigated hippocampi volume of taxi drivers - found it was larger - involved in spatial skills - M concluded the rigorous training including learning + recalling London streets as well as experience of driving the taxi (nurture) actually had effect on size of hippocampi (nature) supporting theory of neural plasticity + interaction between N + N

Question 15

Nature - implication - evidence from…

Answer 15

…Gottesman (Sz) found higher concordance rates for genetic similarities - can be a strength - shows high % influence of genetics so supports nature

Question 16

implication - real world application…

Answer 16

…research suggests OCD is a highly heritable mental disorder - e.g. Nestadt put heritability rate at .76 - such understanding can inform genetic counselling + other practical strategies - shows the debate is not just theoretical but important on practical level

Question 17

consequence - research by Plomin…

Answer 17

…suggests ppl create their own nurture by actively selecting environments that are appropriate for their “nature” - e.g. a naturally aggressive child is likely to feel more comfortable w/ children who show similar behaviours + this further influences their development

– P refers to this as “niche picking” + it suggests that it doesn’t make sense to look at evidence for either nature or nurture as ppl create their own nurture through their natures

Question 18

consequence - socially sensitive…

Answer 18

…saying behaviour is a result of nature that can’t be changed or upbringing that is difficult to change might be a sensitive topic when explaining behaviour

Question 19

consequence - reductionist + deterministic…

Answer 19

…each side of debate is R + can be considered D - they do not take into account any other stances on behaviour other than their own - (does not apply to interactionist approach)