nature vs nurture

The nature debate

People who advocate the nature side of the debate are known as nativists - they would suggest bvr and character traits are innate and as a result of heredity

Some psychologists would suggests that our bvr is pre programmed into us due to genetics and the instincts. Genes provide the blueprint for all bvrs some present at birth others pre programmed to emerge with age as we mature

This is a determinist view

Nature - example

Bowlby proposed children come into the world biologically programmed to form attachments because it will help them survive, inherited

Interactionist debate

We are affected by both nature and nurture. The idea that nature has an effect on nurture and visa versa and that these two collaborative forces influence us

It works by an individuals characteristics such as temperament gender etc may elicit particular responses from other people which may then elicit particular responses from other people which may then influence the individuals behaviour.

Interactionist - example

Magurie argued that driving a taxi affects the size of your hippocampus

Nature debate

People who advocate the nurture side of the debate are known as empiricists - they suggest that we are a product of environmental influences they argue the mind is like blank slate at birth upon which learning and experience write

Experiences therefore dictates who we are and what we become

Deterministic view - proposed all human bvr is the result of interactions with the environment

Nurture - example

Behaviourists explain attachment in terms of classical condictioning cupboard love theory where food is associated with the parent and through repeated pairings an attachment occurs

A strength - RWA

P. There are important RWAS

E. For nature debate drug therapies have been developed as a result of nature explanations which treat behavioural or psychological problems that have a physiological origin For example:SSRIS to treat depression

E. For the nurture debate if behaviour is harmed to environmental influences we need to consider how to adapt our environment for example: using role models to promote helping behaviour enhance learning and reduce aggression

L. This shows that the debate is not just theoretical it is important on a practical level too

A strength - epigenetics

P. There is research support for epigenetics

E. In 1944 the nazis blocked the distribution of food to the Dutch people and 22,000 people died of starvation in the Dutch hunger winter

E.susser and lin (1992) report that women who become pregnant during this time had low birth weight babies. These babies then became twice as likely to develop schizophrenia when they grew up

L. This supports the view that life experiences of previous gender actions leave epigenetics markers that influence the health of offspring spring

A limitation - reductionist

P. It is reductionist to try and separate Nature and nurture but it is meaningless they both contribute

E. It is seen in a case of PKU which is caused by the inheritance of two recessive genes and people with PKU are unable to break down amino acids which builds up in the blood and brain causing mental retardation

E. However if a child with PKU is placed on a low protein diet for the first 12 years they avoid this potentially life long disorder

L. The discovery of epigenetics also illustrates that genes and environment are much less separate than was previously thought