nature vs nurture

nature debate

people are a product of genetics and biology

nurture debate

people are a product of their environment

nativism

nature side of the debate

Descartes

we are born with predispositions and pre-programmed behaviour

empiricism

nurture side of debate

what does empiricism state?

no innate mechanisms, all we become is due to experience

research examples supporting nativism

Harlow and Lorenz

research examples supporting empiricism

MDH, Little Albert and Zimbardo

research examples supporting both nature and nurture

Bandura

heredity

genetic transmission of mental and physical characteristics

environment

any influence on behaviour that isn’t genetics e.g pre-natal or social and historical

interactionist approach

nature and nurture interact and influence each other, it is inappropriate to separate them

diathesis stress

biological vulnerability and a trigger event result in a behaviour/characteristic