Issues and debates notes
Nature vs nurture
Environment = everything outside our body (e.g. people, physical world, events)
Heredity = process by which the traits are passed from parents to their offspring
Interactionist approach = view that processes of nature and nurture work together rather than in
opposition
Nature = behaviour seen as product of innate (biological / genetic) factors
Nurture = behaviour seen as product of environmental influences
Influences of nature
Genetic explanations:
● Closer 2 people are genetically, the more likely they will develop the same behaviours (shown by
family, twin and adoption studies)
● E.g. Joseph found concordance rates for schizophrenia is about 40% for MZ twins & 7% for DZ
twins
● The closer similarity for individuals with the same genes shows that nature has a major
contribution
Evolutionary explanations:
● Based on principle that a behaviour / characteristic that promotes survival + reproduction will be
naturally selected & passed on to future generations as they are adaptive
● E.g. Bowlby said attachment was adaptive as it meant an infant was more likely to be protected +
survive & attachment promotes closer relationships which are successful for reproduction
● Shows behaviours naturally selected & this can only be done through genetic mechanisms
Influences of nurture
Behavioursism:
● Behaviourists believe all behaviour can be explained through experiences alone
● E.g. say attachment can be explained by classical (food is mother who feeds child) or operant
conditioning (food reduces discomfort of hunger which is rewarding)
Social learning theory:
● Bandura proposed behaviour is acquired through learning (but also said that urge to behave
aggressively may be biological but way person learns to express anger is acquired through
environmental influences - direct + indirect reinforcement)
Other explanations:
● E.g. Bateson double blind theory of schizophrenia - suggests it develops in kids who frequently
receive contradictory messages from parents (e.g. say they love them but at same time turns
, head away in disgust) - these conflicting messages prevent child developing an internally
consistent construction of reality, leading to schizophrenia symptoms
AO3
1. Point: The diathesis stress model suggests an interactionist approach to explain behaviour
Explanation: The diathesis stress model is often used to explain mental disorders, it suggests that you
can have a genetic vulnerability to developing a disorder (the diathesis) but whether that disorder
develops depends on environmental factors / triggers (stressors)
Evidence: Research has shown that not everyone with the genes for developing a certain disorder
develops it
Link: Therefore, this suggests that someone's nature is only expressed due to certain conditions of
nurture, highlighting importance of an interactionist approach
2. Point: There is evidence to support the fact that nature and nurture both contribute
Evidence: The disorder phenylketonuria is an inherited disorder which prevents the amino acid
phenylalanine being metabolised, resulting in brain damage, however if the condition in detected at birth
an infant can be given a diet devious of phenylalanine meaning that brian damage is averted
Explanation: This inherited condition can be prevented through environmental manipulation
Link: Therefore, this highlights the importance of an interactionist approach
3. Point: Some researchers believes that nurture can affect nature
Evidence: For example Maguire et al did a study of London taxi drivers and found that the region of their
brains associated with spatial memory was bigger than the controls
Explanation: They were not born this way but the hippocampi had responded to the increased use
Link: Therefore, this shows how nurture can affect nature
Free will and determinism
Determinism = behaviour controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual
Free will = each individual has the power to make choices about their behaviour
Nature vs nurture
Environment = everything outside our body (e.g. people, physical world, events)
Heredity = process by which the traits are passed from parents to their offspring
Interactionist approach = view that processes of nature and nurture work together rather than in
opposition
Nature = behaviour seen as product of innate (biological / genetic) factors
Nurture = behaviour seen as product of environmental influences
Influences of nature
Genetic explanations:
● Closer 2 people are genetically, the more likely they will develop the same behaviours (shown by
family, twin and adoption studies)
● E.g. Joseph found concordance rates for schizophrenia is about 40% for MZ twins & 7% for DZ
twins
● The closer similarity for individuals with the same genes shows that nature has a major
contribution
Evolutionary explanations:
● Based on principle that a behaviour / characteristic that promotes survival + reproduction will be
naturally selected & passed on to future generations as they are adaptive
● E.g. Bowlby said attachment was adaptive as it meant an infant was more likely to be protected +
survive & attachment promotes closer relationships which are successful for reproduction
● Shows behaviours naturally selected & this can only be done through genetic mechanisms
Influences of nurture
Behavioursism:
● Behaviourists believe all behaviour can be explained through experiences alone
● E.g. say attachment can be explained by classical (food is mother who feeds child) or operant
conditioning (food reduces discomfort of hunger which is rewarding)
Social learning theory:
● Bandura proposed behaviour is acquired through learning (but also said that urge to behave
aggressively may be biological but way person learns to express anger is acquired through
environmental influences - direct + indirect reinforcement)
Other explanations:
● E.g. Bateson double blind theory of schizophrenia - suggests it develops in kids who frequently
receive contradictory messages from parents (e.g. say they love them but at same time turns
, head away in disgust) - these conflicting messages prevent child developing an internally
consistent construction of reality, leading to schizophrenia symptoms
AO3
1. Point: The diathesis stress model suggests an interactionist approach to explain behaviour
Explanation: The diathesis stress model is often used to explain mental disorders, it suggests that you
can have a genetic vulnerability to developing a disorder (the diathesis) but whether that disorder
develops depends on environmental factors / triggers (stressors)
Evidence: Research has shown that not everyone with the genes for developing a certain disorder
develops it
Link: Therefore, this suggests that someone's nature is only expressed due to certain conditions of
nurture, highlighting importance of an interactionist approach
2. Point: There is evidence to support the fact that nature and nurture both contribute
Evidence: The disorder phenylketonuria is an inherited disorder which prevents the amino acid
phenylalanine being metabolised, resulting in brain damage, however if the condition in detected at birth
an infant can be given a diet devious of phenylalanine meaning that brian damage is averted
Explanation: This inherited condition can be prevented through environmental manipulation
Link: Therefore, this highlights the importance of an interactionist approach
3. Point: Some researchers believes that nurture can affect nature
Evidence: For example Maguire et al did a study of London taxi drivers and found that the region of their
brains associated with spatial memory was bigger than the controls
Explanation: They were not born this way but the hippocampi had responded to the increased use
Link: Therefore, this shows how nurture can affect nature
Free will and determinism
Determinism = behaviour controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual
Free will = each individual has the power to make choices about their behaviour
