Nature v Nurture

Define nature and give a topic to support

• Nativist psychologists believe human behaviour is innate and passed on through generations due to genes

• OCD is inevitable to be passed through generations because it is due to a maldaptive SERT gene

Define nurture and give a topic to support

• The mind is a blank slate and behaviour is shaped by our environment and experiences

• A phobia is formed after an unconditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned response. Originally there was no response

What is the relative distribution of nature and nurture?

It is where they try and see which has the most influence for the cause of the behaviour. For example, OCD has a high concordance rate but this could be due to genes or due to the fact twins are treated very similarly during upbringing.

What is the interactionist approach?

It argues that both genetics and the environment play a part in human behaviours, the vulnerability is there but a trigger must be pulled to cause the behaviour (diathesis-stress model)

What are the strengths for the nature nurture debate?

🙂 Interactionist approach - Tienari found that adopted children were most likely to develop schizophrenia when they had the genetic disposition and a dysfunctional relationship with family

🙂 Criminal behaviour can be caused by being raised in dysfunctional environment whilst also maybe having the criminal gene (MAOA)

What are the weaknesses of the nature nurture debate?

☹ The nurture side cannot be a full explaination because concordance rates are not 100% - OCD only has an 87% concordance rate for MZ twins

☹ Constructivism - individuals create their own nurture by seeking environments that fit their nature