nature vs nurture

nature vs nurture debate

about whether an individuals characteristics and behaviour is due to genes (nature) or environment and upbringing (nurture)

nature

some physical characteristics, e.g eye colour, hair type are biologically determined

nurture

lifestyle can clearly influence some of these factors, e.g diet, exercise, living conditions and environment (pollution)

nature arguments

the maturation theory by gesell

the maturational theory

argues that environment has no effect on a child’s developmental

• any developmental problem lies within the individual child and not as a results of the child’s environment and circumstance

nurture argument

by bandura

bobo doll experiment 1960s

showed that children learned aggressive behaviours by observing adults, even copying aggressive acts and language

• the children watched adults interact with the bobo doll and then when left alone, with the doll, copied their aggressive actions

genetic predisposition

means that you inherit the possibility to develop a certain condition (you will have a higher chance of developing it)

• you cannot change these biological factors, but can change environmental factors to reduce the effect of the condition

• the WHO says that most diseases involve environmental factors and genetic factors

examples of genetic predisposition

• cystic fibrosis

• brittle bone disease

• huntingtons disease

• PKU

• colour blindness

• duchenne muscular dystrophy

down’s syndrome

isn’t genetically inherited, but is due to genetic mutations or abnormalities

biological factors and pregnancy

the environment inside a mothers womb can have a dramatic influence on a child’s development as well as the lifestyle choices of the mother during pregnancy

• drinking ; foetal alcohol syndrome

• smoking, drug use, poor diet, exercise

if a pregnant women is exposed to infections this can affect the baby : FOR EXAMPLE

• measles, rubella

children can be born with congenital defects or natural tube defects (which affects the skull and spinal cord)