Nature vs nurture

• The nature vs nurture debate considers the relative contributions of each of these influences (genetic or environmental) in explaining our behaviours.

  Exam tip: Make sure to give examples of influences, e.g. genes, childhood.
• What side of the argument do nativists support and what side do the empiricists support?

  Nativists support genetic influence (nature) and empiricists support environmental influence (nurture).
• What do empiricists believe about out behaviour?

  They believe that the mind is a 'blank slate' at birth, all behaviour is learnt though conditioning except innate reflexes, like blinking. In all they believe that behaviour is determined by learning experiences in the environment.
• What do nativists believe about out behaviour?

  They believe that nature is the influence of our behaviour. This involves the impact of innate drives or hereditary traits on our behaviour, both of these factors can be influenced by our genetics. They believe that the correlation coefficient of our behaviour is in relation to our genetics.
• Why do identical twins have higher concordance rates compared to non-identical twins?

  Identical twins have higher concordance rates because they have more similarities on average when compared to non-identical twins, they share school, genes and a year group. Non-identical twins are less concordant because although they share the school experience they don't share all genes .

  Exam tip: If given a table use the results given in your answer.
• What is an interactionist approach to behaviour?

  Interactionists believe that behaviour arises from both nature and nurture. Bowlby claimed that a baby's attachment is determined by the warmth and continuity of parental love. Kagan proposed that a baby's innate personality also reflects attachment relationship. Due to this, nature, in a sense, creates nurture, so the environment and heredity interact.
• What does the diathesis stress model suggest?

  It suggests that behaviour is caused by a biological or environmental vulnerability which is only expressed when coupled with a biological or environmental 'trigger'. E.g. a person who inherits a genetic vulnerability for OCD may no develop it, however, combined with a psychological trigger (trauma) they may start to develop OCD.
• What are epigenetics?

  This refers to a change in our genetic activity without changing the genes themselves. It's a process that occurs throughout life and is caused by interaction with the environment. Aspects of our lifestyle leave 'marks' on our DNA, which switches the genes on/off. This explains why factors, like smoking, have a life long influence - they change the way your genes are expressed.