the nature-nurture debate and interactionist approach Flashcards
what is the nature and nurture debate?
how much influence they have on our behaviour
whats does nature refer to?
genetics
whats does nurture refer to?
environment
whats the importance of heredity on determining our behaviour?
genetics:
genetic makeup influences our behaviour
evolutionary:
innate characteristics within us that have been passed down through natural selection
whats the importance of environment in determining behaviour?
learning theory:
behaviour is learnt via experience
whats is the interactionist approach?
the concept that behaviour isn’t just down to nature OR nurture but the interaction between the two
what is diathesis stress?
suggests that mental illness or abnormalities occur due to the interaction between biological (DIATHESIS) and environmental (STRESS) influence
whats are the three ways in which nature and nurture can interact?
passive relationship:
parents genes affect the way they treat the child.
MUSICAL MUM WANT CHILD TO LEARN TOO.
active relationships:
child’s genetic makeup actively affects the environment.
QUITE KID LIKES QUITE ACTIVITIES.
reactive relationship:
child’s genetic makeup leads to a particular response from others.
CHILD HAS GOOD RHYTHM, IS ENCOURAGED TO JOIN A DANCE CLASS.
explain how DIFFICULT TO STUDY is a evaluation point.
it is impossible to separate both nature and nurture to see the impact both of them have on behaviour separately.
we will never know the extent to which they influence our behaviour.
even when looking at twin studies, that are so many different factors which explains the variations in concordance rates
explain how DETERMINISM is a evaluation point.
by explaining behaviour with either a nature or nurture approach, is deterministic.
more useful to take a interactionist approach
explain how NATURE CAN AFFECT NURTURE is a evaluation point.
when genetic makeup makes a person select a environment they prefer reinforces their ‘nature’.
its impossible to distinguish which influence behaviour the most bc the relationship between then seems to be reciprocal.
explain how NURTURE CAN AFFECT NATURE is a evaluation point.
interactionist approach is more likely to be accurate.
Maguire et al london taxi drivers, brain plasticity
their environment changed their nature
it is too simple to just put it down to the nature and nurture debate.
explain how EPIGENETICS is a evaluation point.
parents habits can change their genetics by “switching genes on and off” creating a epigenetic marker.
the genes that are switched on are passed down to the offspring which could suggest that infants aren’t a blank slate.
