Non verbal behaviour: innate or learned behaviour

Question 1

neonate research

Answer 1

Neonate = a newborn baby.
If a non-verbal behaviour is shown at birth it is likely to be innate.

Question 2

Social releasers

Answer 2

These are non-verbal behaviours like smiling which make others want to look after babies (Bowlby).
This is adaptive because it means that a young baby will be looked after and the genes passed on.

Question 3

facial expressions

Answer 3

Rosenstein and Oster found that young babies’ faces showed disgust with novel foods like citric acid (found in lemons).
This suggests such facial expressions as a way of communicating emotions are innate.

Question 4

sensory deprived

Answer 4

An animal or human without a sensory ability, such as hearing or sight. If they show the same non-verbal behaviour as people with normal hearing or vision this suggests the behaviours are innate.
Thompson found similarity in blind children and children with normal vision in terms of facial expressions such as surprise.

Question 5

Cross-cultural research

Answer 5

Comparing behaviours between cultural groups. If behaviours are different this suggests that they are learned rather than innate.

Question 6

Contact versus non-contact cultures

Answer 6

One cultural difference in non-verbal behaviours is in terms of personal space.
People from contact cultures (the Mediterranean and Latin America) are comfortable with smaller personal space.
People from non-contact cultures (the UK and the US) maintain a larger distance between themselves and others.

Question 7

gestures

Answer 7

Pointing one’s index finger is acceptable in Western culture to emphasise what is being said but offensive in Hindu culture where people tend to point with their thumbs (Black).

Question 8

explaining cultural differences

Answer 8

Social learning theory can explain cultural differences (observing and imitating others).
People observe what other people in their culture are doing (e.g. personal space) and copy those behaviours.