Nature and Nurture Flashcards
(12 cards)
AO3 paragraph structure
no strength or limitation/weakness
instead we’re going to say a positive or negative implication
evidence stays the same
explain - this is a positive/negative implication because…
CA stays the same
C1 stays the same
C2 changes, do not refer to validity
nature strengths
practical application
drug treatment - OCD & SSRIs
Increased usefulness
nurture weaknesses
difficult to define
nature and nurture AO1
- The nature-nurture debate is the discussion held within the discipline about the relative influence that nature and nurture has on behaviour. Nature is the role of factors that were born with, genetically pre-programmed dispositions that influence out behaviour. An example of this is the role of low level of serotonin causing OCD disorder. On the other side of the debate is Nurture, the role of environmental factors, such as learning. An example of this is the role of the classical conditioning principles shaping a person’s behaviour. Many psychologists debate the contribution that these influences have, with many psychologists, such as that of the psychodynamic approach, taking the interactionist approach. This interaction, accepting that both sides of the debate affect behaviour, can be illustrated by concepts such as the diathesis stress model. This has been used to explain anorexia nervosa, by the contributions of genotypes and environmental stressors causing the disorder. To be able to allow us to research into the impact of each approach, nature or nurture, psychologists coined the heritability coefficient, a number used to represent the heritability of a particular trait. The closer to 1 the coefficient, the more likely the behaviour is due to nature. For example, height has a coefficient of 0.8
AO3 (1) nature and nurture
- A negative implication of nature-nurture debate as a whole is that taking either side of the argument can lead to a reductionist approach
- For example, in the treatment of mental illnesses like depression, the nature argument would suggest medication (like SSRIs) as a treatment and the nature argument would suggest talking therapy (like CBT/DBT) as a treatment. However, evidence shows that a combination of the two is the most effective treatment
- However some psychologists may argue that taking one side of the debate allows for a clearer cause and effect to be established, leading to a more effective treatment
- Despite this, taking each side of the debate can lead to a reductionist, and therefore ineffective, approach to treatment
AO3 (2) nature and nurture
- A negative implication of nature is that the emphasis on innate biologically determined behaviour may lead to discrimination
- For example, a focus on the presence of the ADHD causing the gene in offending behaviour may lead to discrimination in the justice system for dependents with ADHD
- However, some psychologists may argue that identification of biological risk factors allows for early intervention and development of medication to target the gene/consequential behaviours
- Positive discrimination and better understanding of why behaviour happens
- Despite this, the naturist argument that all behaviour is biologically pre determined is a socially sensitive topic that can result in discrimination
- Thus, this shows the negative implications of the nature-nurture debate
AO3 (3) nature and nurture
- A negative implication of this debate is that research into nature may lead to socially sensitive investigations or discrimination
- For example, if it was found that aggression or criminality was present in a specific ethnic or minority group, (perhaps due to the influence of a nature based economical factor), this could result in the false presumption that that group is pre disposed to commit crimes. Leading to discrimination and as a result, leading us to question the usefulness of the supplication of the debate
- However, some psychologist may argue that although it could lead to discrimination, it does show a practical application of the debate as we would be able to intervene to offer support if any of these finings have been developed following research into the debate
- Despite this, it is still a negative implication of the debate because of the impact research into one side of the debate can have
- Thus, highlighting a negative implication of nature-nurture debate
hard determinism
all behaviour is completely determined by external and internal factors and as a result free will does not existed
like psychic being determined by your unconscious or biological being determined by genetics and hormones or environmental being determined by the environment
soft determinism
posits that while behaviour is influenced and often constrained by prior causes, people still possess a degree of personal freedom and responsibility in their actions
environmental examples
Rachel keeps on stealing clothes from the shopping centre because she likes the compliments she gets from her friends about how fashionable she is
Joey feels less aggressive after playing a game of rugby
Jeremy does his homework as soon as his father tells him. He does this because he knows he will not be allowed to go out with his friends
Zac sees his friend Billy get a sticker for the hard work that he has put into a picture he drew in art, so Zac put more effort into his art work as he really wants a sticker
Brian goes to see his favourite football team Man United and shouts abuse with the crowd at the Liverpool fans
Daniel sees his friend Fred in the street and jumps out. Fred’s heart starts to race and he feels sweaty
Sarah starts to smoke cigarettes because her friends smoke
Sam’s dad shouts at Sam for leaving his toys out so Sam now always tidies up when he has finished with them
Elly goes to see her sister who has been put in jail for speeding. Elly sees how unhappy she is. She drives really slowly whenever she drives now
psychic examples
Monica is obsessively tidy and keeps all her clothes in the wardrobe by colour order
Debbie breaks a vase that her step-mum bought her
Annabel refers to her boss as coming from ‘hell’ rather than ‘Hull’ when she describes her to her friend
Felix meets his mum’s new boyfriend and says ‘pleased to beat you’ accidentally
Chandler has trouble forming relationships with other people and can’t remember much about his childhood
biological examples
Javid has an excess of dopamine in the brain and is showing schizophrenic symptoms
Bob has an overactive hypothalamus and so feels extremely aggressive
Sandra feels irritable and upset a few days before her period is due
William has been told the cause of his infertility is Klinefelter’s syndrome ( he has an extra X chromosome)
