Nature vs nurture

Question 1

The Nature-Nurture Debate

Answer 1

The nature-nurture debate concerns the question as to how much of our behaviour is down to biology or the environment.

Question 2

The Role of Nature

Answer 2

Nativism is the term used to describe the stance that is in agreement with the nature side of the argument. Introduced by René Descartes (1596-1650), he suggested that when born, the human soul is already equipped with an understanding of certain key concepts such as time.

Question 3

Genetic explanations

Answer 3

Genetic explanations: Family, twin and adoption studies have shown that the closer people are genetically, the more likely that they will develop similar behaviours. This has shown to be true for disorders such as schizophrenia and criminal behaviours. For example, concordance rates between genetically identical twins is 40% while non-identical twins have concordance rates is 7% (Joseph, 2004).

Question 4

Evolutionary explanations:

Answer 4

Evolutionary explanations suggest that a behavioural characteristic that promotes survival and reproduction will be naturally selected.

Question 5

The Role of Nurture

Answer 5

Behaviourist adopt the view of philosopher John Locke who described newborn infants as a blank slate on which experience is written.

Question 6

Behaviourism

Answer 6

behaviourist take the view that all behaviour can be explained in terms of experience with B.F.Skinner using the concept of classical and operant conditioning to explain how learning occurred.

Question 7

Social Learning Theory

Answer 7

social learning theory is another explanation on the side of the nurture debate. Proposed by Bandura, this saw behaviour has acquired through learning and added the new dimension of indirect (vicarious) reinforcement.

Question 8

The Interactionist Approach

Answer 8

The interactionist approach sits between nature and nurture and argues the true answer is both genetics and the environment play a part in behaviour.