nature vs nurture

Question 1

What is nurture?

Answer 1

the environment influencing an individual (includes social + environment)

Question 2

examples of nurture

Answer 2

living conditions, education, upbringing, parenting class, religion

Question 3

what is nature?

Answer 3

genetic inheritance, which determines biological physical characteristics

Question 4

examples of nature

Answer 4

hair + eye colour, life expectancy, weight/height

Question 5

what is the nature debate?

Answer 5

Gesell -> maturation study

Question 6

what was Gesell’s maturation study?

Answer 6

he observed children through a one way mirror to prove that development was only a result of genetics

Question 7

What were Gesell’s findings in his maturation study?

Answer 7

Children develop according to a natural, biological schedule.
-identified norms at each age - created milestones

Question 8

What was Gisells aim during his research?

Answer 8

What could children do at each age group?

Question 9

2 strengths of Gisells research?

Answer 9

• sample size was large so it generalised to a wider population
• one side mirror
  no demand characteristics and the children were not influenced

Question 10

what is the nurture debate?

Answer 10

Bandura - social learning theory

Question 11

What did Bandura believe?

Answer 11

All behaviour is learnt
Development is the result of learned observation

Question 12

What is the sequence for the social learning theory?

Answer 12

1. child notices behaviour of another person eg. phrases
2. child internalises behaviour/ action by remembering what they observed
3. child reproduces the behaviour not necessarily straight away but when the opportunity occurs
4. depending on outcome (positive or negative) reinforcement, children will either repeat or not repeat the behaviour

Question 13

What was Bandura’s experiment?

Answer 13

the bobo doll experiment (1961)

Question 14

What happened during the Bobo Doll experiment?

Answer 14

• children aged 3-5
• a child + adult are in the same room with toys and a bobo doll
• adult begins to beat bobo doll for 10mins
• child is then left alone in the room with the toys
• 100% children who observed the behaviour copied the adult
• control group → adult played calmly → same behaviour was copied

Question 15

What did the Bobo experiment show?

Answer 15

behaviour is learnt

Question 16

What are the positives of the results of Bandura’s study?

Answer 16

• encourages parents/ teachers to consider how they role model
• supports nurture

Question 17

What are the problems of Bandura’s study?

Answer 17

• ethical issue → long-lasting damage
• not all behaviour is repeated due to reinforcement
• doesn’t simulate real life → children may not be willing to hurt a person
• doesn’t consider individuals backgrounds, cultural + individual circumstances

Question 18

What makes us more likely to copy behaviour?

Answer 18

• if we see behaviour being rewarded
• if we like + respect the person whose behaviour we observe
• if we see ourselves as similar to the person we observe + their behaviour
• if behaviour can be copied without too much difficulty

Question 19

EVALUATION: Bandura’s social learning theory positives - what does it help explain?

Answer 19

• behaviour is shaped by more than just rewards + reinforcement
• positive role models encourage positive behaviour
• why people carry out behaviours even when there is no external reward

Question 20

EVALUATION: Bandura’s social learning theory negatives - what does it help explain?

Answer 20

• Not all behaviour is copied from someone else, eg, crime
• not all observed behaviour is copied, even young children know the difference between fantasy violence + the real thing
• doesn’t take personality traits into account (innate biological)

Question 21

What is the name of the model that uses both nature and nurture to explain development?

Answer 21

Stress-diathesis model

Question 22

What is the stress - diathesis model?

Answer 22

• psychological model that explains stress is caused by life events (nurture)
• impact this has on an individual is linked to the individual’s genetic makeup (nature) + impact on mental wellbeing

Question 23

what does the stress - diathesis model explain?

Answer 23

some individuals have either a biological or genetic predisposition to mental illness (referred to as a diathesis)
However, a person who has a genetic predisposition to mental illness may never develop the disorder if they never experience a stress trigger in their life

Question 24

2 weaknesses of Gisells research?

Answer 24

• sample consists of white/british, similar backgrounds
• does not consider learning/ sensory disabilities + cultural differences