The nature-nurture debate

Question 1

What is the nature argument?

Answer 1

Inherited, genetic factors.

E.G. biological approach

Question 2

What is the nurture argument?

Answer 2

The environment (learning and experiences).
E.G. behaviourist approach

Question 3

What is the nature nurture argument?

Answer 3

Concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics.

Question 4

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 4

Heredity (nature) factors and the environment have an influence on each other.

Question 5

What is the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 5

Suggests that genes create a genetic vulnerability and stressors in the environment then trigger behaviours.

Question 6

What are epigenetics?

Answer 6

A change in our genetic activity without changing our genetic code which is caused by interaction with the environment, e.g. smoking.

Question 7

Describe the evaluative point of the implications of nativism vs empiricism?

Answer 7

• Nativism: suggests that our inherited genetic make up determines our characteristics and behaviour and that the environment has little input.
• Nativism = extremely controversial as it has attempted to link race, genetics and intelligence.
• Empiricism: suggests that behaviour can be changed by altering environmental conditions. Behaviour shaping also has practical applications in therapy.
• Empiricism = desirable behaviours are selectively reinforced and undesirable behaviours are punished = extreme cases this may lead one to advocate a model of society that controls and manipulates its citizens (e.g. Hitler).

Question 8

Describe the evaluative point of shared and unshared environment.

Answer 8

• Suggests that individual differences mean that siblings may experience life events differently (age, temperament).
• Would explain the finding that MZ twins reared together do not show perfect concordance rates,
• Supports view that heredity and environmental facts cannot be meaningfully separated.

Question 9

Describe the evaluative point of constructivism.

Answer 9

• Genes and environment interact but people create their own ‘nurture’ by actively selecting environments that are appropriate for their ‘nature’.
• EG an aggressive child is more likely to feel comfortable around other aggressive children.
• Further evidence that it is impossible and illogical to separate nature vs nurture.