2.3: The nature-nurture debate

Question 1

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks)

Answer 1

Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour

Question 2

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks).
Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour.
Example

Answer 2

For example, the biological/genetic vulnerability (diathesis), namely the fear of spiders, is an adaptive trait

Question 3

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks).
Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour.
For example, the biological/genetic vulnerability (diathesis), namely the fear of spiders, is an adaptive trait.
When

Answer 3

When it is presented with an environmental trigger (stressor) such as living in a house full of spiders, the individual will develop a phobia of spiders

Question 4

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks).
Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour.
For example, the biological/genetic vulnerability (diathesis), namely the fear of spiders, is an adaptive trait.
When it is presented with an environmental trigger (stressor) such as living in a house full of spiders, the individual will develop a phobia of spiders.
Similarly, when considering how individuals react to environmental conditions,

Answer 4

Similarly, when considering how individuals react to environmental conditions, interactionists have suggested that MZ twins who share the same environment will have different interpretations of events due to individual differences

Question 5

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks).
Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour.
For example, the biological/genetic vulnerability (diathesis), namely the fear of spiders, is an adaptive trait.
When it is presented with an environmental trigger (stressor) such as living in a house full of spiders, the individual will develop a phobia of spiders.
Similarly, when considering how individuals react to environmental conditions, interactionists have suggested that MZ twins who share the same environment will have different interpretations of events due to individual differences.

Answer 5

Dunn and Plomin therefore argue that it is not possible to separate heredity and the environment, which is why MZ twins don’t have perfect concordance rates

Question 6

Using an example, explain what is meant by an interactionist approach in the nature-nurture debate (3 marks).
Interactionists apply the diathesis-stress model of mental illness, for example to phobias.
It is also possible to see how nature and nurture combine to create a behaviour.
For example, the biological/genetic vulnerability (diathesis), namely the fear of spiders, is an adaptive trait.
When it is presented with an environmental trigger (stressor) such as living in a house full of spiders, the individual will develop a phobia of spiders.
Similarly, when considering how individuals react to environmental conditions, interactionists have suggested that MZ twins who share the same environment will have different interpretations of events due to individual differences.
Dunn and Plomin therefore argue that it is not possible to separate heredity and the environment, which is why MZ twins don’t have perfect concordance rates.

Answer 6

Supporters of constructivism, including Plomin, argue that it is impossible and illogical to try to separate the biological and environmental elements of behaviour and this suggests that it is not as straightforward as just nature or nurture when explaining behaviour