Nature V nurture Flashcards
Nature
Descartes - behaviour is controlled by biological factors
Nurture
Locke - behaviour is determined by learning and environment
‘Blank slate’
Lerner
Environmental influences begin at birth.
Physical and psychological state of the mother.
Social conditions.
The interactionist approach
Nature and nurture are so linked that it does not make sense to separate the two, so instead study how they influence and interact each other.
Hereditary and environment interact- a two way street in which the child’s temperament will influence the way its parents respond to it.
Diathesis-stress model
Psychopathology is caused by genetic vulnerability which is only expressed when coupled with an environmental trigger.
Epigenetics
A change in genetic activity through environment and lifestyle.
Dias and Ressler
Gave male lab mice electric shocks when presented with the smell of acetophenone and the mice developed a fear reaction when the scent was presented. Their children and grandchildren also feared the smell despite never being exposed to it.
Implications of nativism and empiricism
The stance of nativism has led to attempting to link race, genetics and intelligence. (socially sensitive)
Behaviour shaping has had practical application in therapy. Desirable behaviours are reinforced and undesirable behaviours are punished.
Shared and unshared environments
Research attempting to tease out the influence of environment is complicated by the fact that even siblings may not have experienced exactly the same upbringing.
Plomin (1990) suggests that individua differences in siblings may mean that they experience life events differently.
Constructivism
People create their own nurture by seeking out environments that are appropriate for their nature.
A naturally aggressive child is likely to feel more comfortable around children who show similar behaviours.
Plomin refers to this as niche-picking.
