nature nurture debate

• nature nurture debate is the extent to which aspects of behaviours are inherited or acquired characteristics
• epigenetics refers to a change in our genetic activity without changing the genes themselves and is caused by an interaction with the environment such as smoking which can change our DNA and can influence the genetic codes of our children
• nature refers to inherited influences. Descortes all human behaviour even knowledge are innate and influenced by biological influences
• nurture refers to the influence of the experience and environment. locke argued mind is a blank state and is shaped by the environment. lerner 1986 prenatal influences e.g smoking affects foetus also postnatal conditions
• measuring nature nurture: degree which two people are similar on a particular trait representated by a correlation coefficient and concordance/ heritability
• heritability is the proportion between of differences between individuals on a particular traits is due to genetic variation
• other psychologists have suggested influence can operate in other direction. neural plasticity brain can recognise the formation of new connections being formed. neuro plasticity describes changes in the structure of brain due to experience. maguire 2000 hippocampus volume london taxi driver larger for taxi drivers. consequently maguire concluded nurture has a huge impact on nature
• modern understanding of the interaction between both sides of the brain. research suggests ocd highly inheritable. nestadt 2020 heritability rate .76 and this understanding inform genetic counselling because it has high heritability not mean its inevitable. this means that ppl who are at high genetic risk can receive advice on preventing ocd
• psychological knowledge deepended the debate as it has become more complex believe meaningless distinction as accepetd both needed for behaviour. psychopathology genetic predisposition and environmental/bio trigger essential developing disorder. supports dsm tinerai 2000 19,000 finnish adoptees dysfunctional parenting sz mother led to development sz in children. shows sz explained by interactionist approach