Nature-nurture debate

Define nature

• behaviour is the product of inherited, innate factors (biological or genetic)

• Heredity is where traits are passed down from 1 generation to another

Example of nature

• Bowbly said children are biologically programmed to form attachment as it helps them survive

Define nurture

• behaviour is the product of environmental influences e.g. learning, experiences

• Empiricists said were a blank slate at birth thats gradually filled with experience

Example of nurture

• Ainsworth attachment style- secure & insecure attachment develops from mums sensitive response to child needs

What is the interactionist approach

• views both nature and nature working together to shaping human behaviour

What is the nature-nurture debate

• centres on the relative contribution of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development

What is diathesis-stress model

• links to interactionist approach

• explains a gene creates a vulnerability, then stressor in environment triggers behaviour

What is epigenetics

• Creating a fault gene due to change in genetic activity without changing our genetic code.

• E.g. smoking causes lung cancer

• Process that happens throughout life due to interaction with environment