Nature-Nurture

• What is the nature-nurture debate?

  the relative/comparative contributions of genes and the environment on behaviour
• what factors are included in nurture?

  environment
• what factors are included in nature

  genetics (biology)
• Which philosopher agrees with the nurture arguments?

  Locke - Empiricist
• Which philosopher agrees with nature arguments?

  Descartes - Nativist
• What's an example for a nature basis of behaviour?

  Genetic evidence for schizophrenia
• What's an example of a nurture basis of behaviour?

  Banduras Bobo-doll study
• Biological determinism for...

  nature
• Environmental determinism for...

  nurture
• Twin studies are used for...

  demonstrating the importance of nature
• Adoption studies are used for...

  demonstrating the importance of nurture
• what is the diathesis-stress model (in this context)?

  shows how nature (a genetic factor) and nurture (an environmental factor) are both present to trigger a disorder
• What is epigenetics?

  when a dormant gene is activated by life events, resulting in a change in body or psychology
• How do epigenetics come about?

  Caused by our interaction with the environment; happens throughout life

  • E.g smoking - seeing a parent smoke may change you to become more likely to smoke ? idk
• What approach takes a nurture perspective?

  Behaviourist approach
• What approach takes a nature perspective?

  Biological
• Strength of research into the nature-nurture debate: uses adoption studies: separate relative influence of nature and nurture.

  Rhee and Waldman (2002) adoption study

  Genetic influences was responsible for 41% of the variance in aggression

  Can separate the influence of nature and nurture - to show biological and environmental influences on niche things such as aggression or OCD.
• Strength: Adoption study

  Tienari et al (2004)

  Finnish adoption study

  Those most likely to develop schizophrenia had biological relatives with a history of the disorder and had dysfunctional relationships with their adoptive families
• Real-life application:

  Nestadt et al (2010)


  Found the heritability  rate for OCD to be .76

  High genetic risk of inheriting OCD

  Can help reduce, help in genetic counselling and therefore high ecological validity.