Nature vs. nurture debate

nature vs. nurture debate

concerned with the extent to which aspects of behaviour are a product of inherited or acquired characteristics

interactionist approach

explains development of behaviour in terms of range of factors both biological and psychological which combine in a way that can’t be predicted by each one separately, they interact, any behaviour/ trait arises from mixture of both

diathesis-stress model

behaviour caused by biological or environmental vulnerability (diathesis), only expressed when coupled with biological or environmental trigger (stress)

epigenetics

change in genetic activity without changing gene themselves, these changes may go on and influence the genetic codes of our children as well as their own children thus introducing a third element to the nature-nurture debate, experience of previous generations

nature

heredity - genetic transmission of both mental and physical characteristics from one generation to another, descartes - all human characteristics are innate, intelligence and personality are determined by genes just like physical traits

nurture

environment - any influence on behaviour not genetic, empiricists argue that mind is a blank slate, then shaped by environment, lerner - identified different levels of environment e.g. prenatally and postnatally

measuring nature and nurture

degree to which 2 people are similar in a trait represented by correlation coefficient, called concordance (estimates extent to which trait is inherited), figure for heritability of IQ = .5 - Plomin showing half of person’s intelligence determined by genetic factors

adoption studies to support nature vs nurture

separates competing influences of nature and nurture, if similar to bio parents then gene is main influence, if similar to adoptive parents then environmental influence, rhee + waldman meta-analysis: 41% of variance in aggression accounted for by genes but Plomin - people create own nurture by selecting environments appropriate for their nature (niche-picking)

epigenetics research support

dutch hunger winter - Susser and Lin - women pregnant during famine had low birth weight babies, babies 2x likely to develop schizophrenia, life experience of previous generations can leave epigenetic markers

real-world application of nature-nurture debate

nestadt - OCD has .76 heritability, can inform genetic counselling, people who have high genetic risk of OCD can receive advice and prepare accordingly

implications of research into nature vs. nurture debate

nativists suggest anatomy is destiny, deterministic approach, led to controversy linking ethnicity genetics and intelligence, in contrast, empiricist’s ideas of behavior shaping had practical application in therapy