Nature vs Nurture

Question 1

What is the nature nurture debate?

Answer 1

The debate involves the degree to which our behaviour is innate and a consequence of heredity. Or to the degree to which it is a consequence of what happens in our environment.

Question 2

How do FAT studies show the influence of nature?

Answer 2

• Show that the closer two individuals are genetically, the more likely the both of them develop the same behaviour
• Concordance rate for schizophrenia is 40% for MZ twins, 7% for DZ twins

Question 3

How does the evolutionary explanation explain the influence of nature?

Answer 3

• Behaviours/characteristics that promote survival and productiveness will be naturally selected. Thus genes will be passed down.
• Bowlby attachment = adaptive as infant is more likely to surivive.
• Attachment promotes a close relationship = faster reproductive success.

Question 4

Example of influence of nurture (Behaviourist)

Answer 4

• Behaviour can be explained through experience
• Classical conditioning = food is the mother who feeds the baby
• Operant conditioning = food reduces discomfort

Question 5

How is Bandura’s study an example of the influence of nurture?

Answer 5

• Says that behaviour is acquired through learning vicariously.
• BUT there is a role of biology for aggression -
• The urge of being aggressive may be biological
• But the means of expressing it through environmental influences.

Question 6

What is the interactional approach in the context of nature and nurture?

Answer 6

• It considers behaviour to be influenced by both nature and nurture.

Question 7

How does the diathesis model support the interactionist approach?

Answer 7

• Diathesis is a biological vulnerability
• expression of the gene depends on the experience of the individual - this acts as a stressor, triggering the condition

Question 8

How does brain plasticity support the interactionist approach?

Answer 8

• Brain changes through growth and reorganisation
• It is when the brain is rewired to function in some way that differs from how previously functioned

Question 9

A03 An alternative explanation has been put forward by epigenetic research.

Answer 9

• Epigenetic refers to a change in our genetic activity without changing our genetic code
• It is a process that happens throughout life and is caused by interaction with the environment
• Aspects of our lives and the events we encounter (smoking, diet) leave epigenetic marks in our DNA.
• Marks tell us which genes to ignore and which to use
• These in turn may be passed down into future gens
• E.g. MZ who live different lives, produce children who differ in appearance
• Epigenetics introduce a third element of the n+n debate, the life experience of previous gens

Question 10

A03 In support of the nature side of the debate, it is arguable that genetics indirectly influence the environment in 3 different way.

Answer 10

• A child who is more aggressive might provoke an aggressive response in others.
• The response becomes a part of the child’s environment and affects the child’s development.
• Plomin et al (1977) called this the reactive gene, the child is reacting to genetically influenced behaviour
• This suggests that genes may indirectly affect behaviours in various ways.
• ## Therefore this suggests that nature can influence nurture in different ways, also providing support for the interactionist approach.

Question 11

A03 In support for the nurture side of the debate, the environment can shape and change the structure of the brain. This is referred to as neural plasticity.

Answer 11

• Maguire et al (2000) study of London taxi drivers.
• Regions of the brain associated with the spatial memory was bigger than in controls
• Taxi drivers were not born this way, it was due to the increased use of the hippocampi
• Study shows how nurture affects nature, also providing support for the interactionist approach

Question 12

A03 An argument that challenges the entire nature-nurture debate was put forward by Hebb who claims the argument is pointless because both nature and nurture contribute to behaviour.

Answer 12

• For example, phenylketonuria is an inherited disorder that prevents the amino acid phenylalanine from being metabolised, resulting in brain damage.
• However if the condition is detected at birth, children can be given a diet devoid of phenylalanine, avoiding brain damage.
• If prevention can be achieved through environmental manipulation, it is hard to establish if it the condition is nature or nurture.
• This shows it is difficult to individualise behaviour as both nature and nurture affects it