Nature vs nurture

Question 1

What is the Nature-Nurture debate?

Answer 1

The debate centres on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) to human behaviour.

Question 2

What does ‘Nature’ refer to in the context of the debate?

Answer 2

The view that behaviour is a product of genetic or innate biological factors.

Question 3

What is ‘Heredity’?

Answer 3

The process by which traits are carried down from one generation to another (genetic inheritance).

Question 4

What does ‘Nurture’ refer to?

Answer 4

The view that behaviour is a product of environmental influences.

Question 5

What is meant by ‘Environment’ in this context?

Answer 5

Any influence on human behaviour that is not genetic, including the environment in the womb and cultural and historical influences.

Question 6

What is the Interactionist Approach?

Answer 6

The view that both nature and nurture interact and work together to shape human behaviour.

Question 7

What is the Diathesis-Stress model?

Answer 7

A psychological theory that explains the cause of a disorder as the result of an interaction between a pre-dispositional vulnerability (diathesis) and stress caused by life experiences.