Nature V Nurture Flashcards
Define environment.
The environment is seen as everything outside the body, which can include people, events and the physical world.
Define heredity.
The process by which traits are passed down genetically from one generation to the next.
Define an interactionist approach.
Argues that several levels of explanation are necessary to explain a particular behaviour, ranging from lower (biological) levels to higher (social and cultural) levels.
Define the nature nurture debate.
One of the oldest debates in psychology. It centres on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development and behaviour.
Describe the nativist approach.
The basic assumption is that the characteristics of human species are a product of evolution and individual differences are due to unique genotypes. Nature is the view that behaviour is because of innate biological or genetic factors. It is based on heredity. The positive correlation between characteristics and genetic relatedness led psychologists to investigate whether psychological characteristics are also ‘wired in’ before we are born.
Give 2 examples of theories based on the nativist approach.
Bowlbys theory of attachment - adaptive
OCD - COMT, SERT, worry circuit
Give 2 studies that support the nativist approach.
David Reimer
OCD concordance rates 68/31 twins.
Describe the empiricist (nurture) approach.
The basic assumption is that psychological characteristics and behavioural differences that emerge through infancy and childhood are the result of learning. Nurture is the view that behaviour is the product of environment. Environmentalists hold the view that the human mind is a tabula rasa and is gradually filled as a result of experience.
Give 2 examples of theories of the empiricist approach.
Social learning theory
Two process model of phobias
Give 2 examples of studies based on the empiricist approach.
Baby x
Little Albert
Describe the interactionist approach.
It is no longer believed that nature v nurture form a dichotomy, they’re both essential for almost all behaviour. Instead of defending either nativist or empiricist views most researchers look at how the factors interact to shape human behaviour.
Evaluate NVN using the interactionist approach.
S - PKU is caused by the inheritance of 2 recessive genes, one from each parent. Ppl with PKU can’t break down amino acid phenylalanine which builds up and causes ‘mental retardation’. However if child is diagnosed early and put on low protein diet it is averted. Therefore nature not expressed because of altered environment.
S - diathesis stress model in psychopathology. Biological vulnerability but only develops if an environmental stressor triggers it. Finnish adoption study,compared 155 adopted children whose mothers had schizophrenia to matched group who’s mothers didn’t. Researchers assessed quality of parenting. They found group w schizophrenic mothers had 10% rate but all of the cases were in families rated disturbed. When the environment was healthy even in the high risk sample the occurrence was below general pop rates. However low risk children from disturbed didn’t cause schizophrenia so some genetics.
S - brain plasticity - brain (nature) changes in response to environment
S - different ways they interact
What are the 3 ways nature and nurture can interact?
Passive gene-environment interaction: parents pass on genes and also provide environment, both of which influence development.
Evocative gene-environment interaction: heritable traits influence the reactions of and hence environment of others.
Active gene-environment interaction: child’s heritable traits influence their own choice of environment
