Nature vs Nurture

Question 1

Outline the interactionist approach

Answer 1

How nature & nurture (environment & heredity) interact to influence our behaviour, as any behaviour/characteristic arises from combinations of both

Question 2

Outline the diathesis-model

Answer 2

Behaviour caused by bio or environmental vulnerability (diathesis) - only expressed when coupled with bio or environmental ‘trigger’ (stressor)
E.g. person who inherits genetic vulnerability for OCD may not develop disorder until combined with physiological trigger, like traumatic xp

Question 3

Outline what is meant by nature

Answer 3

Inherited influences, or heredity
Early nativists like Descartes argued all human characteristics & some aspects of knowledge are innate
Psych characteristics like IQ or personality determined by bio factors (genes), just as physical characteristics like eye colour or height are

Question 4

Outline what is meant by nurture

Answer 4

Influence of xp & environment
Empiricists like Locke argued mind is blank state at birth, then shaped by environment - later becoming important feature of behaviourist approach
Lerner (1986) identified different levels of environment, including prenatal factors, like physical influences (smoking) or psych influences (music) affect foetus

Question 5

Outline measuring nature nurture

Answer 5

Degree to which people similar on particular trait represented by correlation coefficient & called concordance
Such concordance provides estimates about extent to which trait is inherited - heritability
Heritability = Proportion of differences between individuals in population, with regards to particular trait, that is due to genetic variation

Question 6

Evaluate the Nature vs Nurture debate

Answer 6

Strength - ADOPTION STUDIES
E.g. - Adoption studies useful as they separate competing influences of nature & nurture. If adopted kids found more similar to adoptive parents, suggests environmental bigger influence & vice versa. Meta-analysis of adoption studies by Rhee & Waldman (2002) found genetic influences accounted for 41% of variance in aggression
Ex. - Shows research can separate influences of nature & nurture

Strength - EPIGENETICS
E.g. - WW2 example of how environmental effects can span generations through epigenetic effects. In 1944, Nazis blocked distribution of food to Dutch people & 22,000 died of starvation. Susser & Lin (1992) report women who became pregnant during famine had low birth weight babies. These babies were 2x likely to develop schiz than typical pop rates.
Ex. - Supports view life XPs of previous generations can leave epigenetic ‘markers’ that influence health of offspring

Strength - REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
E.g. - Research suggests OCD highly heritable mental disorder. Understanding can inform genetic counselling as it’s important to know high heritability doesn’t mean person will 100% develop it. This means people with high genetic risk of OCD can receive advice about likelihood of developing disorder & how to prevent this, e.g. manage stress
Ex. - Shows debate isn’t just theoretical but it’s important at practical level to understand interaction between nature & nurture