Nature vs Nurture

What does the nature side of the debate argue?

Explains thinking and behaviour in terms of our genes and biology

What is the nurture side of the debate argue?

Argues that behaviour is learned or acquired though experiences in our environment

What studies fall on the nature side of the debate?

• Bandura

  • Boys are more aggressive than girls (14.1 vs 6.3)

• Freud

  • Psychosexual development is universal in all boys and complexes arise from this

• Casey

  • The ability to delay gratification (or lack thereof) remains consistent over time

What studies fall into the nurture side of the debate?

• Bandura

  • Aggressive model increased the aggression of children who had observed them (13.7 vs 6.7)

• Lee

  • Chinese values such as self effacement/modest mean that as Chinese children ag, they view lying in prosocial situations more positively

• Kohlberg

  • Middle class children tend to be more morally developed than working class at the same age

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the nature side?

• Can help identify behaviours that are inherited

  • Means that interventions can be put in place

• Biologically deterministic

  • Makes it harder to change behaviour or develop interventions

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the nurture side of the debate?

• Useful

  • We can create practical applications

• Reductionist

  • Ignores biological factors that can affect behaviour (reduced validity)