the nature-nurture debate

Question 1

explain the Nature Debate

Answer 1

• NATIVISTS
• human characteristics are innate due to heredity
• heritability coefficient shows that the general figure for heritability in IQ= 0.5
• shows genetics and environment are important factors in intelligence

Question 2

what is the heritability coefficient?

Answer 2

• ranges from 0-1
• indicates the extent to which a characteristic has a genetic basis
• 1= entirely genetically determined

Question 3

explain the Nurture debate?

Answer 3

-EMPIRICISTS
-mind is a blank slate (john locke TABULA RASA) and built through learning
-different levels of environment
-pre-natal= during pregnancy
-post-natal social experiences
as child grows up in social
context

Question 4

evaluate controversy of Nature-Nurture debate?

Answer 4

• nativists believe genetic makeup determines our characteristics whilst environment has little impact
• bad as attempts to link race, genetics and intelligence BIOLOGICAL
• this hard determinist stance contrasts to empiricists who argue behaviour can be changed by altering the environment = reinforcement of a desirable characteristic ENVIRONMENTAL
• may lead to society that manipulates using this technique

Question 5

evaluate inability to separate nature and nurture

Answer 5

WEAKNESS

• people create their nurture by seeking out environments that r appropriate for their nature
• aggressive children feel more confident with kids with similar dispositions
• this affects development
• niece-picking
• impossible to separate nature and nurture

Question 6

explain the interactionist approach?

Answer 6

• child’s temperament will influence how parent responds and response will affect child’s behaviour
• therefore nature creates nurture, both hereditary and environmental impacts

Question 7

explain the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 7

-psychopathology is caused by biological and genetic vulnerability which is ONLY expressed when coupled with a biological/environmental trigger

Question 8

explain the difference between the diathesis-stress model and the interactionist approach?

Answer 8

• diathesis believes in a vulnerability that ONLY expressed due to trigger
• interactionist believes hereditary and environmental factors work together

Question 9

evaluate problem with MZ and individual differences?

Answer 9

• MZ twins DONT have 100% concordance rate thats shows hereditary factors and environment cannot be separated
• mz siblings may experience things differently eg… divorce of parents
• Therfore environmental influences are had to separate from hereditary factors

Question 10

what study supports the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 10

-group of Finnish adoptees, those most likely to develop Schizophrenia had relatives with the disorder (VULNERABITY) and had dysfunctional relationships with adoptive families (TRIGGER)