//Nature-nuture debate

Question 1

What is nature

Answer 1

• innate characteristics are determined by psychiological and genetic factors
• genotype

Question 2

What is nurture

Answer 2

-the influence of the environment and learning experiences

Question 3

History of nature nurture debate

Answer 3

• philospohers have debated for centuries about how far human behaviour is the product of innate characteristics, and how far it’s the product of the environment
• e.g. 18th century- nativists like Jean Rousseau argued that all human characteristics were in born
• empiricists like John Locke claimed everyone is a black slate when they’re born- so environment ‘writes’ unique characteristics into us
• now, all psychologists accept nature and nurture interact as personality and behaviour are influenced by both- interactionist approach
• debate now focuses on relative contibution of inherited traits and the role of the environment

Question 4

Example of nature and nurture- rats

Answer 4

• rats raised in dark cages were compared to rats that grew up in stimulating environments
• found that rats raised in the cages do less well in problem solving tasks, and learn more slowly than other rats
• suggests environment can affect innate genetic potential

Question 5

Gottesman (1963)- evidence that it’s hard to separate nature and nurture

Answer 5

• suggested that people have a reaction range
• this means everyone has a certain genetic potential for things like intelligence and height- the genotype
• environment determines how much this potential is fulfilled- phenotype
• e.g. someone with high genetial potential for intelligence, who didn’t go to school may have the same IQ, as someone with low genetic potential for intelligence, who received a good education

Question 6

Diathesis stress model- evidence that it’s hard to separate nature and nurture

Answer 6

• suggests that people have genetic predispositions for disorders
• a person with a higher diathesis is more likely to develop the trait, but whether they do depends on the amount of stress they experience (i.e. the environment)

Question 7

Determining how far nature or nurture control characteristics can be complicated by genetic environment correlations- correlations between genes and environment. What are the three types of genotype environment correlations identified by Plomin et al (1977)

Answer 7

• passive- people with similar genes more likely to experience similar environments
• reactive- genetically determined characteristics may shape a person’s experiences e.g. people react more positively towards attractive people, so expereinces depend on inherited characteristics
• active- people with particular inherited tendencies might seek certain environments - which will shape behaviour. Bandura (1986)- recpricol determinism- envrionment determines behaviour and behaviour determines environment

Question 8

Studying nature nurture influences- family studies

Answer 8

• if family members share a trait more frequently than unrelated people do, then this could imply a genetic influence for that behaviour e.g. Solyom et al (1974) showed phobias can run in families
• similarities between family members may be the result of their shared environment- relatives might learn behaviour from each other through observational learning

Question 9

Studying nature nurture influences- adoption studies

Answer 9

• these compare an adopted child with its biological and adoptive parents. If child has more similarity with its adoptive parents, then this would imply that nature is important, because they share the same environment
• similarity with biological parents- nature is more important- Plomin et al (1988) showed a stronger correltation of IQ within biological families than adopted families

Question 10

Studying nature nurture influences- twin studies

Answer 10

• identical twins (MZ) share 100% of genes. Non identical (DZ) share 50%. If MZ are more likely to share a characteristic than DZ twins, it implies a genetic influence. This is hown by concordance rates e.g. Holland et al (1988) found a 56% MZ concordance for anorexia compared to 5% DZ concordance- suggests genes influence development of anorexia
• but if a trait was completely genetic, then MZ concordance would be 100%, so behaviour must be influenced by environment e.g. people might treat MZ twins more similarly than DZ twins
• more useful to do research on twins that haven’t been brought up together

Question 11

Psychodynamic approach- nature/nurture

Answer 11

• Freud argued that personalities are the result of an interaction of nature and nurture
• emphasised the importance of inborn instincts are drives
• also said that experiences can result in fixations in the stages of development

Question 12

Biological approach- nature/nurture

Answer 12

• empashises gentically determiend brain structure and processes
• evolutionary psychology states that many behaviours are genetically influenced because they have survival value
• but environment influences brain development, so learning can override genetic predispositions

Question 13

Cognitive approach- nature/nurture

Answer 13

• studies genetially determined mental processes, but accepts that the environment influences their development and functioning
• Piaget’s theory of congnitive development argues that environmental stimulation is needed for the gentically determiend process of development to unfold

Question 14

Behaviourist approach- nature/nurture

Answer 14

• all behaviour learnt through conditioning, apart from inborn reflexes and instincts
• nurture side

Question 15

Humanistic approach- nature/nurture

Answer 15

• behaviour is part of a natural need to reach your full potential (to self actualise)
• however, whether you reach it depends on your experiences in the world, so the hmanistic approach falls on nurture side