Nature VS Nurture

Question 1

Explain what the Nature versus Nurture debate is?

Answer 1

It is the argument or debate on whether behaviour is determined by innate biological factors which is nature or environmental influences which is nurture.

Question 2

What does heredity mean?

Answer 2

It is the process by which traits are passed down genetically from one generation to the next.

Question 3

What is the environment?

Answer 3

The environment is seen as everything outside the body, which can include people, events and the physical world.

Question 4

Outline the argument of nature on human behaviour?

Answer 4

-Nature is the view that biological innate factors determine the behaviour that is produced by humans and that it is heredity.

Question 5

Outline what a nativist would suggest about human behaviour?

Answer 5

• they would suggest that physical and psychological characteristics are a product of evolution and that individual differences are the result of a persons unique DNA
• They would also suggest these behaviours have been passed down as a result of natural selection and that they aid humans to adapt to their environment to increase their chance of survival.

Question 6

Identify research that supports the nature debate?

Answer 6

-Gottesman Concordance rate for schizophrenia

Question 7

Identify research that supports the nurture debate?

Answer 7

-Bandura SLT

Question 8

Outline the argument of nurture on human behaviour?

Answer 8

-Nurture is the view that behaviour is a product of environmental influences.

Question 9

Outline what an empiricist would suggest about human behaviour?

Answer 9

The human mind is a blank slate and it is gradually filled with experience through learning and interacting with the environment which determines our behaviour.

Question 10

AO3 for nature vs nurture debate

Answer 10

• PKU proteins
• Turners syndrome
• Gottesman
• Bandura
• psychodynamic approach
• taxi drivers/brain plasticity

Question 11

Outline how PKU illustrates an interactionist approach

Answer 11

• PKU is an inherited genetic disorder caused by inheriting tow recessive genes one from each parent.
• People with PKU are unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine which builds up in the blood and brain which can cause mental retardation.
• However children who have this disorder are put on a low protein diet which is their environment which prevents the PKU disorder which is nature to be expressed at the age of 12.
• This therefore encourages psychologists to research behaviour as both nature and nurture combined work together to influence our behaviour.

Question 12

Outline what is meant by the interactionist approach

Answer 12

The interactionist approach view behaviour as being influenced by both innate biological factors which is Nature and environmental influences or learning which is nurture

Question 13

AO1 for nature vs nurture debate

Answer 13

• Nature vs Nurture debate
• nativists assumptions
• Nature research
• Empiricist assumptions
• Nurture research
• Interactionist approach