nature and nurture

• nature definition

  behaviour that is a product of innate physiological or genetic factors like eye colour

  therefore, there is no control over behaviour
• heredity definition

  the process by which traits are passed down genetically from one generation to the next
• nurture definition

  the mind is a blank slate which learning and experience is the result of the environment

  behaviour is a product of environmental influences
• tabula rasa definition

  the concept of the human mind as a blank slate that is gradually filled with experience
• interactionist definition

  the view nature and nurture work together to shape human behaviour

  nature creates nurture, nurture impacts nature
• key research for interactionism

  Plomin 1977

  niche picking, it is impossible and illogical to separate nature from nurture
• diathesis stress model definition

  the result of an interaction between a predispositional vulnerability, the diathesis, and stress caused by life experiences

  more persuasive

  diathesis is genetic vulnerability

  stress is an external new stimuli
• PKU

  genetic disorder caused by two recessive genes cannot break down amino acids

  low protein diet in childhood can prevent this from happening
• epigenetics

  a change in our genetic activity without changing our genetic code. aspects of our lifestyle and events we encounter like smoking could leave epigenic marks on our DNA

  those marks could go on to influence the genes of our children
• nature vs nurture - evaluation. evidence for epigenetics

  He and Dias wafted a scent under a mices nose then shocked them. The mice learned to associate the smell with the pain and shuddered when they smelt it. it was found that the rats offspring exhibited an increased sensitivity and shuddered when exposed
• nature vs nurture - evaluation. disentangle

  adoption studies allow us to disentangle nature from nurture

  adoption studies allow us to separate them to compare influences

  more like adopted = nurture, whereas more like biological = nature

  this suggests its possible to separate the differences between nature and nurture, expanding our knowledge and letting us get closer to a conclusion of nature vs nurture
• nature vs nurture - evaluation. downsides

  there are downsides to an entirely nativist or empiricist perspective

  nativists - anatomy is destiny can lead to eugenics

  empiricists - behavioural modification can lead to social control, which is extreme change to what is desired socially eg conversion therapy

  focusing on the extreme causes negative outcomes and can potentially be dangerous