Nature nurture Flashcards
(17 cards)
what is nature?
any influence on behaviour which is genetic
what did early nativists argue?
all human characteristics are innate, determined by biological factors
what is nurture?
refers to influence of environment and experience on behaviour
what did empiricists argue?
mind is a blank slate at birth and shaped by environment
what is hereditary?
process by which traits are passed from parent to offspring by genetic inheritance
heritability coefficient quantifies the extent to which characteristics are genetic
what is the nature-nurture debate?
argument as to whether a persons development is mainly due to genetics or the environment
what is the interactionist approach?
view that both nature and nurture work together to shape behaviour
diathesis-stress model in terms of nature-nurture debate
suggests behaviour is caused by a bio/enviro vulnerability which is only expressed when coupled with a bio/enviro trigger
what is epigenetics?
study of how behaviours and environment change how our genes work. some genes are only expressed in response to life events
nature approaches
biological
cognitive
psychodynamic
nurture approaches
humanistic
behaviourist
biological (environment influences brain development)
example of influence of nature?
genetic explanations
more closely related two individuals the higher the likelihood they will develop the same behaviours
concordance rate for sz is 40% for MZ twins and 7% for DZ twins, shows nature plays contribution to disorder
however, concordance rates arent 100% suggesting nurture also plays a role in development of sz
example of influence of nurture?
behaviourists assume all experience can be explained in terms of experience alone
they suggest attachment can be explained in terms of classical conditioning where food reduces discomfort of hunger (neg reinforcement) and is therefore rewarding
evaluation of nature nurture debate (brief)
strength - nurture affects nature, maguire
strength - adoption studies, tienari
strength - genetic counselling, ocd
strength 1
There is evidence to show nurture affects nature. Maguire et al studied the brains of London taxi drivers and found significantly more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group. This part of the brain is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills. Maguire et al found that the learning experience of London taxi drivers alters their brain structure. They also found there was a positive correlation between length of time on the job and the more pronounced the structural difference was. This increases our validity of the interactionist approach
strength 2
a further strength is the use of adoption studies. adoption studies are useful as if adopted children are more similar to adoptive parents, suggests environment is bigger influence. whereas if adopted children more similar to biological parents, suggests genetics is bigger influence. Tienari et al studied Finnish adoptees whose biological mothers had schizophrenia. They found that adoptees with a high genetic risk were more likely to develop schizophrenia when raised in a dysfunctional family environment, but this was not the case for those in the control group without genetic risk. This supports the idea that both genetic vulnerability and environmental stress are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. this shows how adoption studies are beneficial in understanding the influence of nature and nurture
strength 3
the nature-nurture debate has real world application. research suggests that ocd is a highly heritable mental disorder. such understanding can inform genetic counselling as it is important to understand that high heritability does not mean it is inevitable will develop the disorder. this means people with a high genetic risk for OCD can receive advice about likelihood of developing the disorder and how best to prevent this. this shows the practical value of the nature-nurture debate
