"Nature Versus Nurture" Debate Flashcards
What is the “nature versus nurture” debate over?
Degree to which hereditary and environmental factors are responsible for the diversity in development of human characteristics and behavior
What is the “GxE” interaction?
The interaction between genetics and environment to produce a given outcome
Discuss the term “range of reaction” and its meaning
An individual’s genetics set the boundaries for the possible phenotypes that can occur. Genes set the boundaries for the range of reaction but environment determines which outcomes will materialize.
Reaction ranges area believed to be larger for whom?
Those with high genetic endowment, e.g., children with high intelligence as opposed to those with below-average intelligence.
Critical periods versus sensitive periods
Limited time span during which a person (or other organism) is biologically prepared to acquire certain behaviors but requires environmental stimuli for development to occur VERSUS although there are optimal times for certain capacities to develop, those capacities can develop, to some degree, at an earlier or later time.
Maturation
Refers to genetically-determined patters of development (with environment having little to no impact on maturationally-determined characteristics like learning to walk b/c it involves a preprogrammed sequence of behaviors. Environment can affect when sequence begins, but order of behaviors is same regardless.
Canalization
Characteristics that are relatively resistant to environmental forces. Describes the narrow developmental path these characteristics take. Sensori-motor development is highly canalized whereas intelligence and personalty are less canalized.
Secular Trends
Are long-term patters of differences across cohorts that provide evidence of the impact of the environment. Examples include children growing taller and physically developing at earlier ages and earlier menarche as result of better overall health, diet, advancements in medical care, etc.
