Discuss the nature- nurture debate in psychology. Refer to at least two topics
you have studied in your answer. (16 marks)
The nature vs nurture debate is one of the most famous debates in psychology it about the
extent to which our behaviour is because of nature and the extent to which it is nurture.
The nurture sides suggest that our behaviour is the product of environmental influences
which are caused by interactions with the environment. The environment is everything
outside of the body and empiricists (Locke) argue the mind is a blank slate at birth and is
filled as result of experience (behaviourist approach). For example, Behavioural psychologist
suggest that attachment behaviour can be explained due to classical conditioning.
Whereas nature is the view that behaviour and characteristics are the product of innate
biological or genetic factors that are acquired through being passed down biologically. For
example, Bowlby proposed that children come into the world biologically programmed to
form attachments as it will help them survive. This implies attachment behaviours are
naturally selected and passed down as result of inheritance (heredity). The behaviour which
is passed down is attachment and the cause of this behaviour is innate biological factors
that have been passed down due to evolution to ensure survival.
Whereas the interactionist approach is the view both nature and nurture work together to
shape behaviour. For example, the diathesis stress model suggests mental disorder is
caused by biological vulnerability which is expressed when coupled with an environmental
trigger. (stressor)
A strength of understanding interaction may have real world implications. This is as extreme
beliefs in the influence of nature and nurture may have negative implication to how we view
human behaviour. For example, empiricism suggests that any behaviour can be changed by
environmental conditions and this has led to behaviour shaping therapies such has CBT,
which has practical application in therapy as desirable behaviour are reinforced and
undesirable behaviour are punished. Whereas nativists suggest genes determine behaviour
‘anatomy is destiny’ and this has led to controversy linking race to intelligence as Shockley
1952 claimed there may be genetic reasons to why black people tend to score lower IQ tests
than white people. Thus, by recognising that human behaviour is both nature and nurture is
a more reasonable way to approach the study and ‘management’ of human behaviour.
A strength of interactionist approach is there is growing research to support it and this
research shows the nature-nurture distinction has become meaningless. Research
examining neural capacity in biopsychology suggests life experiences (nurture) shape our
biology (nature). For example, Maguire et al found the posterior hippocampus volume of
London taxi drivers correlated positively with their experience as driver and there was
difference when compared to the control group. Therefore, Maguire concluded that regular
exposure to certain task, driving a taxi (nurture) can have an effect on brain structure, effect
size of hippocampus (nature), thus demonstrating importance of interactionist approach
and presenting evidence nurture can affect nature.
you have studied in your answer. (16 marks)
The nature vs nurture debate is one of the most famous debates in psychology it about the
extent to which our behaviour is because of nature and the extent to which it is nurture.
The nurture sides suggest that our behaviour is the product of environmental influences
which are caused by interactions with the environment. The environment is everything
outside of the body and empiricists (Locke) argue the mind is a blank slate at birth and is
filled as result of experience (behaviourist approach). For example, Behavioural psychologist
suggest that attachment behaviour can be explained due to classical conditioning.
Whereas nature is the view that behaviour and characteristics are the product of innate
biological or genetic factors that are acquired through being passed down biologically. For
example, Bowlby proposed that children come into the world biologically programmed to
form attachments as it will help them survive. This implies attachment behaviours are
naturally selected and passed down as result of inheritance (heredity). The behaviour which
is passed down is attachment and the cause of this behaviour is innate biological factors
that have been passed down due to evolution to ensure survival.
Whereas the interactionist approach is the view both nature and nurture work together to
shape behaviour. For example, the diathesis stress model suggests mental disorder is
caused by biological vulnerability which is expressed when coupled with an environmental
trigger. (stressor)
A strength of understanding interaction may have real world implications. This is as extreme
beliefs in the influence of nature and nurture may have negative implication to how we view
human behaviour. For example, empiricism suggests that any behaviour can be changed by
environmental conditions and this has led to behaviour shaping therapies such has CBT,
which has practical application in therapy as desirable behaviour are reinforced and
undesirable behaviour are punished. Whereas nativists suggest genes determine behaviour
‘anatomy is destiny’ and this has led to controversy linking race to intelligence as Shockley
1952 claimed there may be genetic reasons to why black people tend to score lower IQ tests
than white people. Thus, by recognising that human behaviour is both nature and nurture is
a more reasonable way to approach the study and ‘management’ of human behaviour.
A strength of interactionist approach is there is growing research to support it and this
research shows the nature-nurture distinction has become meaningless. Research
examining neural capacity in biopsychology suggests life experiences (nurture) shape our
biology (nature). For example, Maguire et al found the posterior hippocampus volume of
London taxi drivers correlated positively with their experience as driver and there was
difference when compared to the control group. Therefore, Maguire concluded that regular
exposure to certain task, driving a taxi (nurture) can have an effect on brain structure, effect
size of hippocampus (nature), thus demonstrating importance of interactionist approach
and presenting evidence nurture can affect nature.
