Nature vs nurture

Heredity

The genetic transmission of mental and physical characteristics

Environment

Any influence on behaviour that is non-genetic. Thus could range from pre-natal influences in the wombs to the influence of culture and society

Interactionist approach

The idea that nature and nurture influence and interact with each other to the extent what it doesn’t make sense to separate the two

(E.g. Diathesis stress model to explaining mental disorders)

Nature vs Nurture debate

Explores to what extent human behaviour is the product of heredity influences or environmental influences

Nature side

Argues that behaviour is the product of innate biological or genetic factors. This is often known as the nativist position in which the basic assumption that that the characteristics of the human species are a product of evolution.

Nurture side

Argues that human behaviour is the product of environmental influences. This position is known as the empiricist position and the basic assumption is that the human mind is 'tabula rasa' (a blank slate) and that everything is the result of experience within the environment.

Implications of the Nature vs Nurture Debate

• The nature vs nurture debate is particularly important and has a number of in particular it has important implications regarding the treatment of mental illness

• If mental health disorders are due to nature then therapies should focus on targeting these biological abnormalities such as drug treatments advocated by the biological approach e.g., SSRI's which work on increasing the levels of serotonin available

• However, if mental health disorders are associated with nurture, therapies should focus on an individual's environment

Difficulties separating Nature vs Nurture

• However, a key issue with the nature vs. nurture debate is that it is very difficult to untangle the effects of nature and nurture, and separate the influences of genetics and the environment

• Furthermore, even individuals with similar environmental experiences will not be exactly the same, adding further complexity to the debate

• Twin studies have often be used to assess the genetic versus environmental influences. However, even with these studies it is difficult to determine whether a higher concordance rate among MZ twins is due to genetics or shared environmental influences.

Alternative approach: Interactionism

• Most psychologists now believe that we should consider both nature and nurture and therefore adopt an interactionist approach. This is the idea that nature and nurture are linked and not separate, instead they interact and influence each other

• A celebrated example of the interactionist approach is the diathesis-stress model. It is recognised that not everyone in a given family develops disorders such as OCD, depression or Schizophrenia suggesting instead that one's nature is only expressed under certain conditions of nurture

• The diathesis-stress model suggests that certain genes or biological vulnerabilities may leave people more likely to suffer from a mental disorder but an environmental stressor is also required to trigger the condition

Nature-Nurture in Attachment

Nature : Bowlby, attachment is innate, evolved as survival mechanism. Babies instinctively display social releasers and adults instinctively respond

Nurture: Learning theory, attachment is acquired through classical conditioning, Mother is NS associated with UCS of food. Mother becomes CS leading to UCR of pleasure. Maintained through operant conditioning, caring for baby stop the crying, mother removes unpleasant feelings of hunger which us negative reinforcement

Nature-Nurture in Psychopathology

Nature: Phobias, Biological preparedness, innate fear of stimuli that are a potential threat. These are common phobias spiders, snakes and heights

Nurture: 2 process theory, phobia is acquired through classical conditioning and maintaining through operant conditioning. Avoidance is reinforced through negative reinforcement

Nature-Nurture in Forensic

Nature: MAOA gene (low activity version) leads to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine = impulse aggression

Nurture: Differential association, learn 2 things associating with criminals. Pro criminal attitudes, specific criminal activities