nature-nurture debate Flashcards
nature
influences on our behaviour that are inherited and/or innate
heritability is measured by the correlation coefficient
closest o 1.0 or 100 the more inherited it is
nurture
influences on our behaviour that come from the environment or our experiences of the world
based on the behaviourist assumption that were are born a blank slate - ‘tabula rasa’
interactionist approach
most psychologists look at the relative contributions of nature and nurture rather than believing only one causes behaviour
nature and nurture interact with each other
diathesis stress model
behaviour has a predisposition in our genes
requires and emotional trigger for it to be expressed
e.g. trauma
epigenetics
refers to life experiences that can change the way our genes are expressed
environmental influences can leave marks on our DNA which can last our whole lifetime and can be passed onto offspring
evaluation of nature-nurture debate
adoption studies
real world application
moral implications
adoption studies : EVALUATION OF NATURE-NURTURE DEBATE
-adoption studies have proved useful in understanding relative contributions of nature and nurture
- researchers can assess the heritability of characteristics without children having the same upbringing
- supports nurture
real world application : EVALUATION OF NATURE-NURTURE DEBATE
- by understanding the nature-nurture debate researchers can almost predict the heritability of certain disorders
- potential sufferers can be given prevention strategies to help it being expressed
moral implications : EVALUATION OF NATURE-NURTURE DEBATE
- if we discover certain genetic predispositions to behaviours this could lead to gene editing by scientists
- could have moral implications for future generations of children
key ideas of nature-nurture debate
nature
nurture
interactionist approach
diathesis stress model
epigenetics
