nature vs. nurture debate

Question 1

What does ‘nature’ refer to in the context of the nature vs. nurture debate

Answer 1

The idea that behaviour is innate and determined by biological factors, such as genetics and neurobiology

Question 1

What does the nature vs. nurture debate examine

Answer 1

The extent to which biological factors (nature) or environmental influences (nurture) shape human behaviour

Question 2

What does ‘nurture’ suggest in the nature vs. nurture debate

Answer 2

That behaviour is a result of experience, learning, and environmental influences

Question 3

interactionist approach

Answer 3

The idea that nature and nurture interact in shaping behaviour

Question 4

heredity

Answer 4

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring

Question 5

What external factors can influence behaviour

Answer 5

Upbringing
culture
education
social interactions

Question 6

an example of a nature-based explanation in gender development

Answer 6

Chromosomes (XX and XY) and hormones (testosterone, oestrogen) influence gender development

Question 7

How is testosterone linked to behaviour

Answer 7

It is linked to aggression, suggesting biological factors determine behaviour

Question 8

What does Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment illustrate about nurture

Answer 8

Participants adopted aggressive or submissive behaviours depending on their assigned roles

Question 9

What does the diathesis-stress model suggest about schizophrenia

Answer 9

Genetic vulnerability interacts with environmental stressors to trigger schizophrenia

Question 10

What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory regarding attachment

Answer 10

Attachment is innate, driven by evolution for survival

Question 11

What does learning theory suggest about attachment

Answer 11

Attachment is learned through conditioning, meaning the environment determines bonds

Question 12

What evidence supports the nature explanation of schizophrenia

Answer 12

Genetic studies show schizophrenia runs in families

Question 13

strengths

Answer 13

✅ Interactionist evidence
→ Example: Tienari et al. (2004) (Schizophrenia) showed genetic risk interacts with adoptive family environment, supporting the diathesis-stress model.

✅ Practical applications
→ Example: Systematic desensitisation (Psychopathology) uses nurture (conditioning) to manage phobias, even where genetic predispositions exist

Question 14

limitations

Answer 14

❌ Difficult to separate influences
→ Example: Eysenck’s personality theory (Forensics) combines genetic (nature) and socialisation (nurture), making it difficult to isolate the key factor.

❌ Research bias
→ Example: Bandura’s Bobo Doll study (Social Influence) focused on nurture, ignoring potential biological predispositions for aggression