Nature/nurture

• Describe examples of the influence of nature

  • genetic- closer two people are genetically, the more likely they will develop the same behaviours- twin studies. Concordance rate for schizophrenic MZ twins is 40%, but 7% for DZ twins
  • Evolution- behaviour or characteristic promoting survival and reproduction is naturally selected- can only be done though genetic mechanisms- eg Bowlby suggested that attachment is adaptive because it ensures an infant's survival. Sexual selection- attractive desirable mates are selected for because it ensures reproductive success
• Describe examples of the influence of nurture

  • Behaviourism- behaviour only explained in terms of experience (CC or OC)
  • SLT- banduras view less extreme than traditional view of behaviourism- argued biological factors have some influence on behaviour, eg the urge to express anger is nature, but way a person learns to express anger is through environmental influences
• Evaluation for nature nurture?

  • Can’t be separated- both contribute to behaviour. Phenylketonuria (inherited disorder) can be avoided by giving diet devoid of phenylalanine from birth which averts brain damage. (interactionism)
  • diathesis-stress- eg being born with genes predisposing someone to a disorder, but gene only expressed through ENVIRONMENTAL stressor
  • Nature affects nurture- reactive gene environment- a child who is more aggressive may create an aggressive response in others and this response becomes part of a child’s environment and affects the child’s development (Robert plomin et al)
  • Nurture affects nature- life experiences can shape biology- maguire et al- study of taxi drivers showed that the region of their brains associated with spatial memory was bigger than in controls, not because they were born that way but their hippocampi responded to increased use
• Describe what is meant by nature?

  Behaviour is a product of innate (biological or genetic) factors
• Define what is meant by nurture

  Behaviour is a product of environmental influences
• state and describe each of the approaches views on nature and nurture

  • behaviourist- nurture- behaviour is a consequence of interactions with the environment
  • SLT- primarily nurture- people learn as a result of observing others, but this has adaptive value
  • cognitive- nature and nurture- thought processes result from innate factors or early experience, eg we share same means of cognitive processing (nature) but can develop irrational thoughts as a result of experience (nurture)
  • biological- primarily nature- genes, neurotransmitters and brain structure influencing behaviour= nature, but experience can modify this eg - Maguire taxi drivers
  • psychodynamic- nature and nurture- unconscious forces dribe behaviour but behaviour is also a product of upbringing
  • humanistic- nature and nurture- drive to self-actualise is nature, problems in achieving self-actualisation = nurture