nature vs nurture Flashcards
nature
-view behaviour is product of innate biological or genetic factors
-heredity(genetic inheritance): is process in which traits r passed down from 1 generation to next
-introduced by descartes (1596-1650) suggested when born soul is already equipped w understanding of key concepts like time
-formed view we r born w predispositions and pre-programmed behaviours
nature
genetic explanations
-family,twin+adoption studies have shown that closer ppl r genetically, the more likely they will develop similar behaviours
-shown to be true for disorders such as sz n criminal behaviours
-eg concordance rates between genetically identical twins=40% while non identical twins concordance rates=7% (joseph 2004)
nature
evolutionary explanations
-evoltuionary expl suggest behavioural characterstic that promotes survival n reproduction will be naturally selected.
-=based on Darwin’s theory of natural selection n proposes behaviours n characteristics that r adaptive will be passed on to subsequent generations as they aid survival n reproduction.
-eg bowlby 1969 proposed that attachement was adaptive bc it meant an infant =^likely to be protected n thus survive
-he also propsed attachment promoted close relationships which would foster succesful reproduction , thus attachement behaviours=naturally selected via genetic mechanisms
nurture
-Behaviourist adopt the view of philosopher John Locke who described newborn infants as a blank slate on which experience is written.
-enviroment is seen as anything out the body which can influence behaviour
behaviourism
-they take view all behaviour can be expl in terms of experince: skinner used classical n operant conditioing to expl how learning occured
-attachment=explained by behaviourists in terms of classical conditioing eg mum is associated w food which=pleasure, or operant conditioning as food reduces the discomfort of hunger and is therefore rewarding.
nurture
slt
-proposed by bandura it saw behaviour has acquired via learning n added new dimension of indirect (vicarious) reinforcement
-he acknowledged biology did have role to play, eg acknowledged urge to behave aggressively might be biological but important regarding slt was a person learns to express anger via enviromental influences via direct/indirect reinforcement
interactionist approach
-sits between both n argues true answer is both genetics n enviroment play a part in behaviour
-this appr proposes genetics gives us a predisposition n potential to act in certain way however expressiono of these genetics is moderated by enviroment
-good eg of this is iq where the IA argues we have a genetic predisposition to attain a certain level of intelligence n we can only reach this potential if the environment is ideal.
-number of fcators may determine this such as poor diet, education,brain injury,parenting etc
ao3
diathesis stress model
-used to expl mental disordrs such as sz or phobias n suggest ppl may be born w certain genes that predisposition them to develop a certain order
-via identical twin studies research has shown both twins may not develop a disorder even if 1 already has such=suggests expression of gene depends on exp/psychological stressors that trigger the condition
-means a persons predisposition will only be expressed if triggered via suffecient enviromental stressors
ao3
difficult to seperate nature n nurture n how theyve influenced the indivual
-eg even in identical twin studies it can be argued both twins having an almost identical upbringing n enviroment may be causing ^ concordance rates
-identical twins may be treated exactly same by friends n family whereas non identical twins may be treated as more indivuals which would explain lower concordance rates among them
ao3
expls have suggested nature may affect nurture w genes exerting an influence in a number of ways
-eg kid whose more aggressive due to genetics may in turn evoke agreesive response from those aroun d it
-this response becomes part of kids enviroment n affects kids development n upbringing causing it to become even more aggressive
-another viewpoint is it may be nurture that affects nature
-maigure et al 2000 studied london taxi drivers n showed region of brain is associated w spatial memory is bigger than in control groups
-this isnt bc they were born this way but bc the hippocampus had responded to ^ used
-=demonstartes how enviromental factors may intern affect biological elements
ao3 strenght
adoption studies
-theyre useful bc seperate competing influences of n+n. if adopted kids r found to be more similar to their adoptive parents
=suggests enviroment is bigger influence
-whereas if adopted kids r more similar to biological parents (no influence on their enviroment) then genetic factors r presumed to dominate
-a meta analysis of adoption studies by soo rhee n irwin waldman 2002 found genetic influences accounted for 41% of variance in aggression
-shows how research can seperate influences of n + n
