Nature and Nurture Debate
Nature-nurture The argument as to whether a person’s development is mainly due to their
debate genes or to environmental influences.
Nature Behaviour is seen to be a product of innate (biological or genetic) factors.
Also known as ‘nativism’.
Nurture Behaviour is a product of environmental influences. Also known as
‘empiricism’.
Heredity The process by which traits are passed from parents to their offspring,
usually referring to genetic inheritance.
Environment Any influence on human behaviour that is non-genetic. This may range
from pre-natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical
influences at a societal level.
Interactionist The idea that nature and nurture are linked to such an extent that it does
approach not make sense to separate the two, so researchers instead study how they
interact and influence each other.
The question of whether characteristics such as personality, intelligence, abnormality etc. are
caused by innate influences (nature) or are the result of learning/environmental influences
(nurture) has a long history in psychology.
Recent research, however, has been more concerned with explanations of how nature and nurture
interact/influence each other. Thus, a modern psychologist is likely to ask: “what is the relative
contribution of nature and nurture on human behaviour?”
It is accepted that the two processes do not just interact but are inextricably entwined. It is no
longer really a nature-nurture debate at all but a new understanding of how genetics works – an
interactionist approach
The interdependence of nature and nurture makes adaptive sense – hardwired systems that are
passed on through heredity, such as areas of the brain for memory and language, are necessary,
because without genes for these systems it would not be possible to learn and recall. But a flexible
system that responds to the environment ensures that each individual makes maximum use of
their innate qualities.
Nature
Early nativists such as Rene Descartes (1596-1650) argued that human characteristics and even
some aspects of knowledge are innate: the result of heredity.
Refers to the importance of the characteristics that we inherit from our parents. When we say
that a behaviour is ‘in our nature’
Nature position is also deterministic as it suggests that our genetic inheritance determines
absolutely the way we are – our genes control us – supports genetic determinism
, Twin studies
A key way that heredity is established: twin studies
-> MZ twins are 100% identical and so, if behaviour was dictated purely by genetics, they
would act the same. However, they do not – the environment must have an influence.
-> the core assumption of twin studies is that the only difference between MZ and DZ twins is their
genetic similarity level
-> as MZ twins look the same, it is possible that they are treated more similarly than DZ twins
-> this would mean that the environment differs between the pairs of twins and therefore any
difference in likelihood of behaviour occurring could be due to the treatment from the parents
rather than genetic similarity
A03
Examples:
Biological approach: core assumption is that behaviour can be passed on through the genetic
make-up of the individual and therefore this approach is on the nature side of the nature-nurture
debate. There is an acknowledgement that the environment does affect the development of genetic
make-up. - illustrated by the phenotype of the individual
Aggression – MAOA gene – associated with aggressive behaviour
Nurture
Refers to the importance of the characteristics that we learn from our environment. One of the
original nurturists (aka empiricists) was philosopher John Locke – claimed we are born a ‘tabula
rasa’ - blank slate
Nurture position is also deterministic as it argues that all behaviour is determined by nurture.
A03
Examples:
Learning approach: behaviourism – environment forms behaviour, extreme nurture position. E.g.
behaviours suggest attachment could be explained in terms of classical conditioning. Also been
used to explain the acquisition of phobias (Watson and Rayner, Little Albert).
Aggression: social psychological theories of aggression – SLT, observation, imitation / de-
individuation
Nature-nurture The argument as to whether a person’s development is mainly due to their
debate genes or to environmental influences.
Nature Behaviour is seen to be a product of innate (biological or genetic) factors.
Also known as ‘nativism’.
Nurture Behaviour is a product of environmental influences. Also known as
‘empiricism’.
Heredity The process by which traits are passed from parents to their offspring,
usually referring to genetic inheritance.
Environment Any influence on human behaviour that is non-genetic. This may range
from pre-natal influences in the womb through to cultural and historical
influences at a societal level.
Interactionist The idea that nature and nurture are linked to such an extent that it does
approach not make sense to separate the two, so researchers instead study how they
interact and influence each other.
The question of whether characteristics such as personality, intelligence, abnormality etc. are
caused by innate influences (nature) or are the result of learning/environmental influences
(nurture) has a long history in psychology.
Recent research, however, has been more concerned with explanations of how nature and nurture
interact/influence each other. Thus, a modern psychologist is likely to ask: “what is the relative
contribution of nature and nurture on human behaviour?”
It is accepted that the two processes do not just interact but are inextricably entwined. It is no
longer really a nature-nurture debate at all but a new understanding of how genetics works – an
interactionist approach
The interdependence of nature and nurture makes adaptive sense – hardwired systems that are
passed on through heredity, such as areas of the brain for memory and language, are necessary,
because without genes for these systems it would not be possible to learn and recall. But a flexible
system that responds to the environment ensures that each individual makes maximum use of
their innate qualities.
Nature
Early nativists such as Rene Descartes (1596-1650) argued that human characteristics and even
some aspects of knowledge are innate: the result of heredity.
Refers to the importance of the characteristics that we inherit from our parents. When we say
that a behaviour is ‘in our nature’
Nature position is also deterministic as it suggests that our genetic inheritance determines
absolutely the way we are – our genes control us – supports genetic determinism
, Twin studies
A key way that heredity is established: twin studies
-> MZ twins are 100% identical and so, if behaviour was dictated purely by genetics, they
would act the same. However, they do not – the environment must have an influence.
-> the core assumption of twin studies is that the only difference between MZ and DZ twins is their
genetic similarity level
-> as MZ twins look the same, it is possible that they are treated more similarly than DZ twins
-> this would mean that the environment differs between the pairs of twins and therefore any
difference in likelihood of behaviour occurring could be due to the treatment from the parents
rather than genetic similarity
A03
Examples:
Biological approach: core assumption is that behaviour can be passed on through the genetic
make-up of the individual and therefore this approach is on the nature side of the nature-nurture
debate. There is an acknowledgement that the environment does affect the development of genetic
make-up. - illustrated by the phenotype of the individual
Aggression – MAOA gene – associated with aggressive behaviour
Nurture
Refers to the importance of the characteristics that we learn from our environment. One of the
original nurturists (aka empiricists) was philosopher John Locke – claimed we are born a ‘tabula
rasa’ - blank slate
Nurture position is also deterministic as it argues that all behaviour is determined by nurture.
A03
Examples:
Learning approach: behaviourism – environment forms behaviour, extreme nurture position. E.g.
behaviours suggest attachment could be explained in terms of classical conditioning. Also been
used to explain the acquisition of phobias (Watson and Rayner, Little Albert).
Aggression: social psychological theories of aggression – SLT, observation, imitation / de-
individuation
