Nature-Nurture Debate

Question 1

What is interactionism?

Answer 1

? if B is determined by nature or nurture.
combination, eye colour 0.8 heritable
Bowlby- baby’s A type determined by warmth and continuity of parental love (environmental) babies innate personality also affects A relationship

Nature (temperament) creates nature (parents response) environment + hereditary interact.

Question 2

What is the diathesis-stress model relating to mental disorders?

Answer 2

Mental disorders is caused by a biological vulnerability which is expressed due to an environmental trigger. OCD for example

Question 3

epigenetics

Answer 3

change to genetic activity without changing genes themselves. caused by interaction.
aspects of life leave ‘marks’ on DNA, which switches on/off
smoking, changes way genes expressed
can influence child’s genetic code. third element into nature-nurture, life experience of previous generations

Question 4

Nature vs nurture

Answer 4

Nurture: behaviour stems from our interactions with our environment, like our social and physical surroundings, termed as “experience.” (operant/classical conditioning for example)

Nature: Nature looks at how biology and genetics shape human behavior and cognition. It’s about traits determined by genes, like schizophrenia and other psychological disorders.

Question 5

Measuring nature vs nurture

Answer 5

correlation coefficient- concordance
provides estimate about extent trait is inherited, heritability

figure of 1% means genes contribute almost nothing to individual differences, 100% means genes are reason.

general= 0.5, means 1/2 persons intelligence is genetic, other half environmental.

Question 6

+ve some psychologists believe nature vs nurture works in reverse

Answer 6

P: Some psychologists propose that the influence of nature versus nurture can operate in reverse.

E: This idea suggests that our life experiences (nurture) can shape our biology (nature), contrary to the traditional notion that genetics primarily determine our traits.

R: Maguire et al. (2000) conducted a study on London taxi drivers to investigate this concept. They examined the volume of the hippocampus in taxi drivers’ brains compared to non-taxi drivers.

C: However, the study’s findings have faced criticism. Some argue that the observed differences in brain structure could be due to other factors besides taxi driving, such as pre-existing differences in brain structure or lifestyle factors.

Y: This criticism suggests that attributing the differences solely to taxi driving might oversimplify the complex interplay between nature and nurture, potentially undermining the study’s conclusions.

Question 7

-ve most psychologists advocate interactionalist approach

Answer 7

P:Most psychologists advocate for an interactionist approach, which considers both nature and nurture.

E:The interactionist approach, exemplified by the diathesis-stress model, proposes that biological vulnerabilities, like a gene for depression, only lead to the condition if triggered by environmental stressors.

R:Studies indicate that not everyone with the gene for depression develops the condition, implying that one’s genetic predisposition manifests only under specific environmental circumstances.

C:While the interactionist approach has contributed to enhanced understanding and treatment of various illnesses, it may oversimplify the complexities of gene-environment interactions. Critics argue that it neglects the intricate interplay between genetics and environment, potentially overlooking other influential factors.

Y: By focusing primarily on the gene-stressor interaction, the interactionist approach may disregard other important contributors to illness development and treatment outcomes, limiting its comprehensive understanding and application.

Question 8

evaluation for nature vs nurture

Answer 8

-ve most psychologists advocate interactionalist approach
+ve some psychologists believe nature vs nurture works in reverse