Nature-nurture Debate

• :( nature is not a full explanation

  > if genes were the sole cause of behaviour, MZ twins who share 100% of genes should have 100% concordance rates, but in the biological explanation of schizophrenia, it is only 48%

  > there must be other factors that affect human behaviour, such as the environment e.g. family dysfunction (nurture)

  > it is important to consider both influences
• :) interactionist approach

  > argues that genetics give a predisposition to certain behaviours, and our genes are then influenced by environment and experiences

  > Tiernari (group of Finnish adoptees) - those most likely to develop schizophrenia had biological relatives with schizophrenia (diathesis) and dysfunctional relationships with their adoptive families (stressor) compared to those with the diathesis but no stressor

  > shows both nature and nurture
• :( constructivism

  > an individual creates their own nurture by actively seeking environments which are more appropriate for their nature

  > e.g. a naturally aggressive child is more likely to feel comfortable around children who show similar behaviour so will choose their environment according to this

  > further complicates the attempt to determine if nature or nurture have a larger impact on human behaviour