nature nurture Flashcards
what is the nature nurture debate concerned with?
the extent to which aspects of behaviour: are inherited (genes) or acquired (environment) characteristics
what does nature suggest about human characteristics?
suggests human characteristics are innate and the result of hereditary. these characteristics are present at birth, but also characteristics expressed later by genes
what approach emphasis nature?
the biological approach
what does nurture suggest about human characteristics?
characteristics are the result of environmental influences. these could be pre-natal environments ( the mothers physiological and psychological state during pregnancy), or post natal experiences such as such as social conditions the child grows up in
which approaches emphasise nurture?
behaviourist and social learning theory
what does the interactionalist approach suggest?
it doesn’t make sense to separate nature and nurture, rather, its better to think of them as opposing ends of a continuum.
what are epigenetic?
a change in our DNA due to our lifestyles and habits (smoking, diet, pollution), tells us which genes to ignore and which to use. therefore, the life experience of previous generations could also be relevant.
what is the diathesis-stress model?
suggests mental illness is caused by a biological/genetic vulnerability which is only expressed when coupled with an environmental trigger.
AO3: how is ‘practical applications’ a strength to the nature nurture debate?
one strength to the debate is that both approaches can lead to a practical application to tackle unwanted behaviours. for example both sides of the debate offer useful ways of helping to tackle negative behaviours. the nature side has helped us to develop drug treatments such as SSRI’s to help treat many mental health conditions such as OCD or schizophrenia. the nurture side has also helped us to develop more therapeutic treatments such as token economy or CBT. however, many treatments are more effective at dealing with negative behaviours when they are combined, such as CBT and drug treatments. therefore, this suggests taking an interactionalist view of behaviour may be more desirable.
AO3: how is ‘behaviour is more likely to be a consequence of an interaction between genetics and environment’ a limitation to the nature nurture debate?
this is because many psychologists argue that both a genetic predisposition and an appropriate environmental trigger are required for a psychological disorder or behaviour to develop. this is referred to as the diathesis-stress model. the diathesis is the biological vulnerability (being born with a gene). however the disorder only develops if an environmental stressor triggers it. for example, people are more likely to turn to crime when they have a genetic vulnerability alongside traumatic experiences as a child. therefore, this suggests that taking an interactionalist approach is necessary to fully understanding behaviour.
AO3: how is ‘difficult to separate the effects of nature and nurture’ a limitation to the nature nurture debate?
one issue is that its difficult to separate the effects of nature and nurture in psychological research. this is because even siblings raised in the same family may experience life events differently. for example, individual differences means siblings may experience life events differently. e.g. age and/or temperament would mean a life event would have a different meaning. therefore, we can never be 100% confident which is influencing behaviour. this suggests that an interactionalist approach might be more desirable when explaining human behaviour.
AO3: how is ‘both sides are deterministic’ a limitation to the nature nurture debate?
both sides of the debate offer explanations for behaviour that are deterministic. this is because ultimately both sides suggest there is no free will. for example, implications for this might be different for both sides of the debate. e.g. if we assume all behaviour results from nature it might lead to eugenics policy or if we
assume all behaviour results from nurture it might lead to environmental shaping. therefore, taking an extreme nature or nurture view of behaviour can be problematic and socially sensitive
