The nature-nurture debate Flashcards
What is the nature-nurture debate?
The argument whether a person’s development is a result of genes or environmental influences.
State and explain an influence on the nature side of the debate.
Genetic. The closer two individuals are genetically, the more likely that both of them will develop the same behaviours.
Give evidence for the influence of genetics on behaviour.
Concordance rates for SZ is 40% for MZ, 7% for DZ twins.
Other than genetics, state and explain another influence on the nature side of the debate.
Evolutionary. Behaviour or characteristic that promotes survival and reproduction will naturally be selected and passed onto future generations.
Give evidence for the influence of evolution on behaviour.
Bowlby suggested attachment was adaptive because it meant the protection of the infant, increasing likelihood of survival.
State and explain an influence on the nurture side of the debate.
Social learning. Behaviour is acquired through direct learning and indirect learning (vicious reinforcement).
Give evidence for the influence of social learning on behaviour.
Child may have biological urge to act aggressively, but the way it is expressed may be limited as a result of the observation of models.
Other than social learning, state and explain another influence on the nurture side of the debate.
Behaviourism. Assumes all behaviour can be explained in terms of experience using the principals of classical and operant conditioning.
Give evidence for the influence of behaviourism on behaviour.
Phobias found to be successfully conditioned into children. Also found to cure phobias through counter-conditioning.
Can also mention classical conditioning and attachment.
(AO3) What is a contest to the nature-nurture debate.
The interactionist approach. Suggests behaviour is influenced by both nature and nurture. Has been applied to onset of mental illness through diathesis-stress model. Shows importance of genetics through genetic vulnerability, but the environment (stressors) determines whether the vulnerability manifests into the illness itself. Shows value of interactionist approach.
(AO3) What is further support for the nature argument, that accounts for some of the nurture argument?
Arguable that genetics indirectly influence the environment, accounting for the influence of nurture. People with a certain genome may seek out environments that suit their genes - conscious or not. E.g. deviant genes may seek out deviant peers, leading to antisocial behaviour.
(AO3) What is further support for the nurture argument, that accounts for some of the nature argument?
Environment can change shape and structure of brain through neural plasticity. Maguire found area of brain associated with navigation and spatial memory (posterior hippocampus) had greater grey matter density than the control group. Due to ‘the knowledge’ which is environmental and therefore nurture. Shows the profound effect of nature on our nurture, and what may appear to be nature is actually a result of nurture.
(AO3) What is an alternative element of the nature-nurture debate?
Epigenetics - a change in our genetic activity due to activity of past generations. Aspects of lifestyle (e.g. smoking) leave epigenetic marks in our DNA, influencing the expression of our genes. This expression is passed down (e.g. increased vulnerability to lung cancer). Identical twins can then produce different offspring. Brings third element to debate - experience of previous generations.
