Nature/Nurture Debate Flashcards
Which psychologists emphasise nature?
Nativists. Descartes
Nature suggests…
Human characteristics/knowledge is innate. The results of heredity.
What is heredity?
Genetic Transmission of mental/physical characteristics via generations.
What does the Heritability coefficient assess:
Heredity. A scale of 0-1.0
IQ - Heredity Plomin 1994
0.50 - Genetic & Environmental influences.
Which psychologists emphasise nurture?
Empiricist. Locke.
nurture suggests…
Mind is a blank slate at birth upon which experience writes - The behaviourist approach.
Why is there different levels of environment?
The environment is a broad/all-encompassing topic
The different levels of environment are:
- Defined in narrow prenatal terms
- Defined more generally by postnatal experiences
The relative importance of Nature/Nurture:
No sense to separate the 2 (closely intertwined). Debate is the relative contribution of each influence.
The relative importance of Nature/Nurture Twin Studies:
Twin Studies. High CR. Nature/Nurture?
Explain the interactionsist approach in Attachment?
- Attachment - 2 way STREET
- Child’s innate temperaments influences parents behaviour
- Parents response affects child’s behaviour
DSM
- Biological/Genetic Vulnerability (Diathesis) + Biological/Environmental Trigger (Stressor)
DSM - Tienari et al (2004)
Finish adoptees. Biological relative with disorder & dysfunctional relationship with adoptive families.
What is Epigenetics?
The change in genetic activity without changing the genetic code.