The nature-nurture debate Flashcards
State the definition of Interactionist approach
View that processes of nature & nurture work together rather than in opposition
State the definition of Nature in this sense
Behaviour is seen to be a product of innate factors
What is the nature-nurture debate?
The argument as to whether a person’s development is mainly due to their genes or environmental influences
State the definition of Nurture in this sense
Behaviour is a product of environmental influences
What are innate influences referred to as and what are they?
Nature
Refers to abilities present at birth - determined by genes
…… acquired through interactions with the environment. Includes both physical & social world
Nurture/Environmental influences
State the Examples of the influence of nature
- Genetic explanations
- Evolutionary explanations
State the Genetic explanations (Examples of the influence of nature)
Family twin & adoption studies
- The more genetically identical 2 individuals are - the more likely they develop similar behaviours
e.g concordance rates for mental disorder ( e.g schizphrenia )
40% for MZ twins
7% for DZ twins
this demonstrates that nature has a major contribution to disorder
State the Evolutionary explanations (Examples of the influence of nature)
Based on principle that behaviour or characteristic that promotes survival/reproduction will be naturally selected
- this is because these are adaptive - genes for that behaviour will be passed down
e.g Bowlby proposed attachment is adaptive - meant infant was more likely to be protected
therefore, attachment behaviours are naturally selected - can only be done through genetic mechanisms
State the Examples of the influence of nurture
- Behaviourism
- Social Learning Theory
- Other explanations
State Behaviourism is ( Examples of the influence of nurture )
Behaviourists assume all behaviour can be explained in terms of experience alone
( e.g Skinner used concepts of classical & operant conditioning)
State what Social Learning Theory is in terms of Examples of the influence of nurture
- Bandura added new dimensions of indirect reinforcement (vicarious)
- Acknowledged that biology had a role to play (urge to be aggressive = biological)
way a person learns to express anger is acquired through environmental influences
State other explanations of influence of nurture
Double bind theory of schizophrenia
- suggest this mental disorder develops in children
- those who receive contradictory messages from their parents
- prevents child developing an internally consistent construction of reality- leads to symptoms