The nature-nurture debate

Question 1

State the definition of Interactionist approach

Answer 1

View that processes of nature & nurture work together rather than in opposition

Question 2

State the definition of Nature in this sense

Answer 2

Behaviour is seen to be a product of innate factors

Question 3

What is the nature-nurture debate?

Answer 3

The argument as to whether a person’s development is mainly due to their genes or environmental influences

Question 4

State the definition of Nurture in this sense

Answer 4

Behaviour is a product of environmental influences

Question 5

What are innate influences referred to as and what are they?

Answer 5

Nature

Refers to abilities present at birth - determined by genes

Question 6

…… acquired through interactions with the environment. Includes both physical & social world

Answer 6

Nurture/Environmental influences

Question 7

State the Examples of the influence of nature

Answer 7

• Genetic explanations
• Evolutionary explanations

Question 8

State the Genetic explanations (Examples of the influence of nature)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

State the Evolutionary explanations (Examples of the influence of nature)

Answer 9

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

Question 10

State the Examples of the influence of nurture

Answer 10

• Behaviourism
• Social Learning Theory
• Other explanations

Question 11

State Behaviourism is ( Examples of the influence of nurture )

Answer 11

Behaviourists assume all behaviour can be explained in terms of experience alone
( e.g Skinner used concepts of classical & operant conditioning)

Question 12

State what Social Learning Theory is in terms of Examples of the influence of nurture

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

State other explanations of influence of nurture

Answer 13

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