Nature vs Nurture

Question 1

What did Rousseau argue?

Answer 1

All human characteristics are in-born.

Question 2

What did Locke argue?

Answer 2

All humans are a ‘blank slate’ when they’re born and the environment ‘writes’ unique characteristics upon us.

Question 3

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 3

That both nature and nurture must interact because behaviour seems to be influenced by both.

Question 4

What did Gottesman (1963) suggest?

Answer 4

Everyone has the genetic potential for things such as intelligence, the environment determines how much this potential is fulfilled.

Question 5

What does the diathesis-stress model suggest?

Answer 5

Individuals may have the genetic predisposition for certain disorders but whether they develop it depends on how stressful their environment is.

Question 6

Who identified the three types of genotype-environment correlations?

Answer 6

Plomin et al. (1977)

Question 7

What are the three types of genotype-environment correlations?

Answer 7

• Passive.
• Reactive.
• Active.

Question 8

What is a passive genotype-environment correlation?

Answer 8

The idea that individuals with similar genes are likely to experience similar environment.

Question 9

What is a reactive genotype-environment correlation?

Answer 9

The idea that genetically determined characteristics may shape an individual’s experiences.

Question 10

What is an active genotype-environment correlation?

Answer 10

The idea that individuals with inherited tendencies might seek out certain environments, which will then determine their behaviour.

Question 11

Is the psychodynamic approach nature or nurture? Why?

Answer 11

• Interactionist.
• Freud argued personalities are a result of the interaction between nature and nurture.

Question 12

Is the biological approach nature or nurture? Why?

Answer 12

• Nature.
• Emphasises genetically determined processes.

Question 13

Is the cognitive approach nature or nurture? Why?

Answer 13

• Interactionist.
• Studies genetically determined mental processes, but accepts the environment’s influence on their development and functioning.

Question 14

Is the behaviourist approach nature or nurture? Why?

Answer 14

• Nurture.
• Assumes all behaviours are learnt through conditioning.

Question 15

Is the humanistic approach nature or nurture? Why?

Answer 15

• Interactionist.
• Assumes behaviour is an innate need to reach your full potential, whether this is achieved depends on world experiences.