nature vs nurture

• nature:

  • innate influences
  • not always present at birth, sometimes genetic e.g huntingtons disease
• genetic explanations of nature:

  • nestadt et al - ocd MZ = 68%, DZ = 31%
• evolutionary explanations of nature:

  • natural selection - survival, reproduction, sexual selection
  • bowlby's theory of attachment
• nurture:

  • environmental influences
  • social, physical factors + effects on infant before birth e.g smoking mother
• behaviourism in nurture:

  • all behaviour explained by experience + conditioning
• social learning theory + nurture:

  • direct + vicarious reinforcement
  • bio plays role - provides urge to be aggressive but expression acquired through environment
• EVALUATION: diathesis stress model

  • used to explain disorders e.g phobias
  • genetic vulnerability but not everyone develops disorder due to lack of environmental stress e.g trauma
  • persons nature expressed under certain conditions of nurture, interactionist response
• EVALUATION: nature effects nurture

  • plomin et al - child who is genetically aggressive may provoke aggression in other kids+ unsettled home leads to mental issues
  • scarr + mccartney - children seek out experiences/environment that suits genes
  • complex + multi layered relationship between nature + nurture
• EVALUATION: nurture effects nature

  • plasticity - life experiences shape biology e.g video games
  • maguire et al - spatial memory region bigger than in control group, not born this way
  • clear demonstration - difficult to seperate the two