Nature vs Nurture

Question 1

What is nature?

Answer 1

• biological approach
• our innate influences are referred to as nature
• behaviours that promote survival are adaptive and passed on to future generations via genetics

Question 2

What is nurture?

Answer 2

• behavioural approach
• environmental influences are acquired through interactions with the environment
• all behaviour is a product of learning
• behavioural psychologists say that all behaviour can be explained by classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning theory

Question 3

AO3: the diathesis-stress model

Answer 3

• A person can be born with a biological vulnerability, eg a schizophrenia gene, but the disorder may only develop if it is triggered by a stressor in the environment
• not everyone with genes for schizophrenia goes on to develop symptoms
• a persons nature is only expressed under certain environmental conditions

Question 4

AO3: nature affects nurture

Answer 4

• It has been shown that nature can affect nurture so both sides of the debate should be acknowledged
• A mentally ill parent may pass on genes for a disorder as well as creating an unstable environment for the child
• the two cannot be separated

Question 5

AO3: nurture affects nature

Answer 5

• It has been shown that nurture can affect nature
• Maguire showed how taxi drivers hippocampi enlarged due to increased use
• nurture can affect brain structure, which is originally coded for by genes

Question 6

AO3: interactionist approach

Answer 6

• a combination of nature and nurture is most appropriate in explaining behaviour as they both contribute
• the disorder PKU is a genetic condition but if its identified at birth the infant can be given a restricted diet to avoid brain damage