Nature-Nurture Debate Flashcards
What is the natural side of the debate?
Nature emphasizes the role of genetics and biological factors in shaping behavior. For example, intelligence and personality traits are often linked to hereditary influences.
What is the nurture side of the debate?
Nurture focuses on environmental influences, such as upbringing, culture, and experiences, in determining behavior. Behaviorist theories emphasize the role of learning and reinforcement
What is the interactionist approach?
The interactionist approach recognizes that nature and nurture work together to influence behavior. For example, genetic predispositions may be expressed only in certain environmental contexts.
What is an example of nature influencing behavior?
The role of genetic factors in mental disorders like schizophrenia supports the nature perspective, with studies showing higher concordance rates among identical twins
What is an example of nurture influencing behavior?
Attachment styles, as shown by Ainsworth’s research, depend on the caregiver’s sensitivity and responsiveness, emphasizing the role of environment in early relationships
How does epigenetics contribute to the debate?
Epigenetics shows how environmental factors can affect gene expression, blurring the line between nature and nurture. For instance, stress can activate certain genetic pathways.
What is the role of diathesis-stress models in this debate?
Diathesis-stress models propose that mental disorders result from an interaction between genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and environmental stressors. This exemplifies the interactionist approach
What are the implications of the nature side?
Emphasizing nature can lead to deterministic views, suggesting that individuals have limited control over their behavior. This perspective may also support controversial practices like eugenics.
What are the implications of the nurture side?
The nurture perspective highlights the importance of environment in shaping behavior, emphasizing the potential for change through education and social reform. It supports interventions targeting environmental factors.
What is the relevance of the debate to twin studies?
Twin studies are crucial for disentangling nature and nurture influences, as they compare similarities between identical and fraternal twins raised in different environments.
How has the interactionist approach improved the debate?
The interactionist approach provides a more comprehensive understanding by acknowledging that nature and nurture are interdependent. This has informed fields like epigenetics and developmental psychology.
Why is the nature perspective criticized?
The nature perspective is criticized for being overly deterministic and ignoring the influence of environment, which limits its applicability to real-world interventions.
How has the nurture perspective been challenged?
Evidence from twin and adoption studies suggests that genetic factors play a significant role, challenging the nurture perspective’s assumption that behavior is entirely shaped by environment
Why is the diathesis-stress model valuable?
It provides a balanced explanation for mental disorders, recognizing that both genetic predispositions and environmental stressors contribute to their development.
What are the practical applications of the debate?
Understanding the nature-nurture interaction has informed treatment strategies, such as combining medication (targeting biological factors) with therapy (addressing environmental influences).
