The nature-nurture debate

Question 1

A01

Nature

Answer 1

Nature
Behaviour is innate, a product of genetic inheritance
Behaviour can be understood by studying biological processes and structures such as hormones, neurotransmitters, regions of the brain
Methodologies involved include brain scanning e.g. PET, MRI; concordance rates in twin studies; DNA analysis via urine or saliva samples
The extreme nature argument suggests that some behaviours are entirely biologically-based e.g. women are born to be carers whereas men are born to be providers
Bowlby’s theory of attachment is an example of a pro-nature argument as he based his ideas on the work of ethologists such as Lorenz, concluding that attachment is an essential evolutionary mechanism needed for the survival of the species

Question 1

A01

Arguments for nature

Answer 1

Understanding genetic inheritance has helped to identify atypical chromosome patterns as seen in a condition such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, which is clear indication of a biological basis to behaviour
The discovery of the nAChR nicotinic receptor in the brain is compelling evidence for a pro-nature explanation of nicotine addiction

Question 2

Arguments against nature

Answer 2

Using a purely nature-based approach can result in prejudiced, overly deterministic, possibly dangerous assumptions being made about people based on their gender, ethnicity, sexuality etc.
Twin studies have failed to show 100% concordance between monozygotic (identical) twins which demonstrates that the environment also plays a role in behaviour, even for people who share exactly the same DNA

Question 3

Outline Nurture

Answer 3

Nurture
Behaviour is learned, a product of environmental factors
Behaviour can be understood by studying environmental influences such as upbringing, relationships, schooling etc.
Methodologies involved include classical and operant conditioning; experiments on social roles such as the Stanford Prison experiment; field studies such as Schaffer and Emmerson (1964)
The extreme nurture view suggests that human beings are born as a ‘blank slate’ (the basis of hard determinism) which is ready to be ‘written on’ by life experiences
The learning theory of gambling addiction is an example of a pro-nurture argument as it is based on the idea that the gambler is positively reinforced in their gambling behaviour and that this is strengthened every time they gamble, even if they lose money

Question 4

Arguments for nurture

Answer 4

Behaviour can be shaped and changed by the environment as evidenced by the two-process model which states that phobias are learned via classical conditioning and reinforced via operant conditioning
Theories such as the deprivation model of aggression demonstrate that the situation may prevail over individual personality traits thus it is the environment that produces aggression, not the person

Question 5

Arguments against nurture

Answer 5

Although twin studies do not show a 100% concordance rate they are still strong indicators that some behaviours may have a genetic basis e.g. Nan et al.’s (2012) found a 61%-80% concordance rate for obesity in a sample of 8000 MZ twins
The nurture side of the debate cannot account for individual differences within children raised in the same family environment i.e. one child may become criminal while the other child does not; one child may develop a drug addiction while the other child does not