Nature vs Nurture debate

Question 1

What is meant by the nature nurture debate?

Answer 1

Concerned with the extent to which behaviour is a product of innate (NATIVISM) or environmental influences (EMPIRICISM)

Question 2

What is meant by heredity?

Answer 2

The process by which traits are passed from parents to their offspring

Question 3

What are the philosophical origins of nurture?

Answer 3

John Locke’s empiricism- we are born as blank slates, experiences dictate who we are and our behaviour.

Question 4

What are the philosophical origins of nature?

Answer 4

Renee descartes’ nativism- Some aspects of human behaviour are innate and hereditary

Question 5

What are two research examples which support the nurture side of the debate?

Answer 5

1. Use of systematic desensitisation to treat phobias
2. Attachment caused by classical or operant conditioning

Question 6

What are two research examples which support the nature side of the debate?

Answer 6

1. Candidate genes (COMT and SERT) in the development of OCD
2. Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment

Question 7

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 7

The view that the processes of nature and nurture worth together rather than in opposition

Question 8

What are two research examples for an interactionist approach for the nature-nurture debate?

Answer 8

1. Epigenetics- refers to a change in our genetic. activity without changing out genetic code. It is a process that happens throughout life and is caused by interaction with the environment
2. Diathesis stress model- suggests that psychopathology is caused by biological vulnerability (diathesis) which is only expressed when coupled with a biological or environmental tigger (the stressor)

Question 9

What are the 3 strengths of the nature-nurture debate?

Answer 9

Practical applications-
Nature: E.G drug therapies developed to treat behavioural or psychological problems that have a physiological origin. E.G SSRI’s used to treat depression.
Nurture: E.G if behaviour is susceptible to Environmental influences we can adapt our environment. E.G how can we plan interventions for criminal behaviour and reduce aggression?
Behaviour shaping= practical application in therapy. desirable behaviours are selectively reinforced and undesirable behaviours are punished or ignored.

Interactionist approach good for economy- The interactionist approach has allowed research to focus on how much of an importance nature and nurture have in relation to each other. This is beneficial as it can have major implications for the economy. E.G research into psychopathology will take into account both heredity and the environment when treating mental disorders. This will lead to more effective treatment and so patients conditions will improve quicker. This benefits the economy as people return to work quicker so they need less sick pay and there will be less strain on the NHS.

Adoption studies- the separate the competing influences of nature and nurture because if adopted children are found to be more similar to their adoptive parents it is an environmental influence and if more similar to their biological parents its a genetic influence. E.G Rhee and Waldman (2002) did a meta-analysis of adoption studies and found that genetic influences accounted for 41% of the variance in aggression.
Counter- Nature and nurture are not two entities that can be pulled apart. Plomin (1994): people create their own ‘nurture’ by actively selecting environments that are appropriate for their ‘nature’. E.G a naturally aggressive child will seek to make friends with aggressive people to fit their environment. Then their companions further influence their development. this is called niche picking.