nature vs nurture debate

Question 1

nature side of the debate

Answer 1

those who stress mature reduce behaviour is the result of our internal/ biological factors (innate) - the influence of genes, neurochemical and brain physiology factors
- inheriting an impaired SERT gene decreases levels of serotonin in the brain which leads to the symptoms of OCD (compulsions)

Question 2

nurture side of the debate

Answer 2

behaviour is largely driven by environmental influences (experiences, social norms)
- learn most of our behaviour from our environment - complete with its interactions
- phobias are acquired through principles of association with UCS being paired with NS - operant and classical conditioning
- fundamental attribution error

Question 3

interactionist approach in nature nurture debate with EVIDENCE

Answer 3

both nature and nurture influence behaviour (phenotypes)
diathesis - stress approach – biological predisposition / vulnerability (impaired SERT gene) is combined with environmental trigger (family stress) is the result of the development of the illness/ condition
- GOTTESMAN, family and twin study that MZ twins have a 0.48 heritability coefficient
= genetics cannot be the only reason for the disorder as it would be a heritability coefficient of 1 if it was the only factor - must be environmental influence

Question 4

explain the epigenetics in interactionist approach

Answer 4

a change in our genetic expression without changing our genetic code - caused by an interaction with our environment.
- life experience of previous generations is a third variable into the nature - nurture debate (epigenetic markers go on to influence the genetic code of our future generations)

Question 5

positive EV for nature

Answer 5

evidence shows nature drives much of behaviour - NESTADT (OCD) found there was conc rate of 68% MZ but only 38% for DZ - there should be a higher conc rate for MZ since they have 100% gen similarity, and since they clearly do have a higher genetic transmission than DZ this supports claims that genetics are a major factor
= genes are very significant in acquisitions of behaviours as there is objective data to supports

Question 6

negative EV against nature debate

Answer 6

NESTADT evidence is flawed - if OCD was completely genetic then MZ twins should have 100% conc rate (if one has OCD then the other should aswell since they are 100% genetically similar) - NOT THE CASE, conc rate was only 68%, another influence must have been involved to modify the likelihood of having OCD and the other not.
= less convincing support

Question 7

interactionist EV nature vs nurture

Answer 7

evidence - TIENARI (Finnish sample of biological children of schizophrenogenic mothers) found that around 5% of children who developed SZ came from healthy family environment whereas, around 40% who had developed SZ came from a dysfunctional family - biological diathesis (internal vulnerability) to SZ triggered by psychological stressor in environment (dysfunctional family) increased chances of children developing SZ than in a healthy env.
= fully understanding human behaviour may be dine by considering the impact of both nature AND nurture