The nature-nurture debate

• What are the two categories of causal factors in behavior?

  Biology (nature) and experiences (nurture)
• What does the nature side of the debate suggest about behavior?

  It suggests behavior is due to genetic makeup
• What does the nurture side of the debate suggest about behavior?

  It suggests behavior is shaped by life experiences
• How do most psychologists view the nature-nurture debate?

  As a combination of both nature and nurture
• What is the psych Boost flash card app used for?

  To test over 1,500 multiple choice questions
• What is a common misconception about the nature-nurture debate?

  That psychologists choose one side completely
• What do behaviorists accept about biology?

  They accept biology plays a role in behavior
• What are primary reinforcers according to behaviorists?

  Food and sex, which are biological in nature
• What do biological psychologists argue about behavior?

  It is influenced by inherited genes and biology
• How do biological processes interact with the environment?

  They can create vulnerabilities to mental health conditions
• Who is associated with the nature side of the debate?

  French philosopher Descartes
• What is Descartes' view on innate ideas?

  He believed the mind is born with innate ideas
• Who is associated with the nurture side of the debate?

  English philosopher Locke
• What does Locke's tabula rasa concept suggest?

  The mind is a blank slate at birth
• How do genetic explanations relate to OCD?

  Individuals inherit a vulnerability to OCD
• What is Bowlby's monotropic theory about attachment?

  Babies have an innate need to attach to a mother
• What do evolutionary theories suggest about behaviors?

  Genes code for adaptive behaviors passed on
• How do behaviorists explain phobias?

  Phobias are due to associations from trauma
• What is interactionism in the context of nature and nurture?

  Genes and environment influence each other
• What is the diathesis-stress explanation?

  Genetic vulnerability plus a stressor triggers disorders
• How does aggression in young males relate to nature and nurture?

  It results from interaction between biology and culture
• What is a deterministic argument in psychology?

  Behavior is caused by either environment or genes
• Why is it important to show two explanations of the same behavior?

  To illustrate the complexity of nature and nurture
• How do twin studies contribute to understanding nature and nurture?

  They measure concordance rates of conditions
• What does a higher concordance rate in monozygotic twins suggest?

  Increased genetic similarity influences conditions
• What is the implication of a purely nature explanation for OCD treatment?

  It leads to SSRIs as drug therapy
• What is often the most successful treatment for OCD?

  A combination of SSRIs and CBT
• How can accepting environmental reasons for behavior empower individuals?

  It allows active roles in altering thought processes
• What could accepting biological explanations lead to in the legal system?

  Arguments to reduce sentences for certain criminals
• What is epigenetic modification?

  Environmental factors influence gene expression
• How can positive experiences affect the epigenome?

  They can positively influence gene expression
• How can parental experiences influence their infants' epigenome?

  Parents' experiences can alter gene expression in infants