nature/ nurture

explain features of nature

devised from Nativist theory

suggests psychological characteristics are inherited as physical characteristics

e.g. intelligence and personality and determined by biological factors (genes)

the biological approach is firmly nature

explain features of nurture

devised from empiricist theory that knowledge derives from learning

behaviour is a result of our environment

e.g learning, socialisation and experience

the behaviourist approach is firmly nurture

explain interactionalist

highlights that hereditary (nature) and environment (nurture) have influence on eachother

e.g. attachment shows that patterns of IS are two way and therefore also dependent on the child’s temperament

Explain the diathesis stress model

The interactionist approach

Genes create vulnerability to traits/behaviours/illness but it can only be activated if triggered by some sort of environmental stress

Explains why only one of MZ twins develop illnesses, etc

Explain levels of environment

There are differing levels on which environment affects behaviour

What are the levels of the environment?

1. Prenatal - mothers physical and psychological health during pregnancy

2. Environment child grow up in - impact of parents, siblings friends

3. Context of their world - political, social historical culture

What is epigenetics?

Refers to a change in our genetic activity without changing or genetic code

It is a process that occurs all throughout life and is caused by the interaction with the environment

For example: smoking, diet, pollution, bedtime, exercise

Leaves a message telling our bodies which genes to silence or express

This is what influences the genetic make up of offspring

Procedure of Dias and Ressler

Gave mail lab mice electric shots every time they were exposed to the smell of acettophenone

Findings of Dias and Ressler

My showed fear response as soon as the smell was presented

Children and grandchildren also experienced the same despite not previously being exposed to the smell or the father

What are the evaluation points?

Danger of accepting only one view

Shared an un shared environment

Constructivism

Genotype environment interaction

Evaluation - danger of accepting only one view

P: nativists suggest ‘autonomy is destiny’ and environment has little input traits and behaviours

E: this is highly deterministic and can lead to controversies such as the race/intelligence debate, which was used to justify social inequality and oppression

E: alternatively imperialist suggest that behaviour can be shaped simply by altering environmental condition conditions

L: this could lead to advocate a model of society where citizens are controlled using reinforcement and punishment

Evaluation - shared and un shared environments

P: one problem of research in this area is that hereditary and the environment can never truly be separated

E: siblings and even twins within the same family do not share identical upbringings and experience different life events entirely

E: a life event such as divorce will be experienced differently by two siblings depending on factors such as age and temperament

L: this explains why even MZs read together do not show perfect concordant rates

Evaluation - constructivism

P: people create their own environments by selecting those which suit their nature

E: e.G.a naturally aggressive child is more likely to feel comfortable around children who shows similar behaviours

E: consequently this environment is likely to have an effect on their development

L: again showing nature and nurture cannot be fully separated

Evaluation - genotype – environment interaction

P: according to Scarr and McCartney, there are three types of gene environment interaction

E: passive interaction= parents genes influence the way they treat their child (musical parents expose child to music)

E: evocative environment= charles jeans influence and shape environment in which they grow up(musically, talented child given opportunities others are not)

E: active interaction= the child creates its own environment through the people and experiences it selects(musical child seeks musical friends and musical experiences)

L: again showing the complexity of the nature/nurture interaction are deep and neither can be isolated