Nature-Nurture Debate

?
What is the debate?
Argument as to whether a person's development is due to their genes or environmental factors
1 of 12
What is heredity?
The process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring
2 of 12
What is nature?
Behaviour is seen to be a product of innate factors
3 of 12
What does environment mean?
Any influence on behaviour that is non-genetic
4 of 12
What is nurture?
Behaviour is seen as a product of environmental factors
5 of 12
What is the interactionist approach?
The idea that nature and nurture can't be separated, instead they interact and influence each other
6 of 12
How does interactionism work?
Nature+nurture work together e.g. a child's temperament will influence the way its parents respond to it which in turn affect child's behaviour
7 of 12
Problem with separating the two factors
Both are closely intertwined so makes no sense to separate e.g. diathesis-stress model, support from study in which over half of OCD patients had traumatic event in past
8 of 12
Problem with using the twin study method
Works on assumption that MZ twins share 100% of same genes, yet MZs may have more identical environs as they may be treated more similarly than DZs
9 of 12
Implications of the extreme nature stance
Led to controversy as argues inherited genetic makeup determines behaviour, Western IQ tests have been given to Ps of all cultures+found difference in IQ scores between black and white Americans, led to prejudice+discrimination
10 of 12
Implications of the extreme nurture stance
Argues behaviour can be changed by altering environment, been applied positively but extreme circumstances leads to ethical issues as it restricts human rights e.g. misuse of token economy
11 of 12
Issue of oversimplified argument
Epigenetics has found environment has effect on genetic activity, white lab rates exposed to smell+shocked at same time, their children+grandchildren were also scared of the smell despite never smelling it or receiving shocks
12 of 12

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is heredity?

Back

The process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring

Card 3

Front

What is nature?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What does environment mean?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is nurture?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Issues and Debates resources »