Nature nurture Issues and debates
The nature nurture debate argues the extent at which behaviour is innate or as a result of
environmental influences. The nature side of the debate suggests that behaviour is
determined by genetic and biological influences. For example, Bowlby (1969) presented the
idea that innate behaviour that gave a survival advantage was inherited by the offspring via
natural selection, like attachment. Which meant that the infant was more likely to be
protected and survive, an example of the influence of nature.
However, the nurture side of the debate suggests that the environment directly influences
our behaviour and that we are born as a blank slate. Interactions with the world around us,
lead to new experiences which write on our blank slate, an example of the theory of
empiricism. This can be seen through research into classical and operant conditioning.
Research into plasticity supports both sides of the nature nurture debate. This can be seen
by Maguire (2000) who found that the areas of the brain linked to spatial memory such as
the hippocampus of London taxi drivers were more developed then non-taxi drivers.
Concluding the fact that, the hippocampus (nature) was directly influenced by being a taxi
driver and remembering routes (nurture).
It can be suggested that nature may exert a direct influence onto nurture. For example, an
aggressive person could possibly provoke aggressive tendencies onto another child in
triggering an aggressive gene. Plomin 1977 identified a parent-child interaction where a
genetically determined mental illness of the parent, could cause a change to the child’s
environment possibly leading to an unsettled home. Then specific behaviours and mental
health disorders such as schizophrenia, may be the result of indirect influence. This shows
the relationship between nature and nurture and how nature can have a direct impact on
nurture.
However, many now believe that both nature and nurture are important in determining
behaviour, adopting an interactionist approach of the diathesis-stress model. The diathesis-
stress model which suggests that not all children born with a biological vulnerability such as
a gene for a mental health disorder, will go on to develop this condition. This disorder can
only develop if a stressor in the environment triggers it, such as abuse as a child. Which
suggests that, nature can only be expressed under certain nurture conditions. The
interactionist approach has helped to develop knowledge and treatment for numerous
mental illnesses.
The nature nurture debate argues the extent at which behaviour is innate or as a result of
environmental influences. The nature side of the debate suggests that behaviour is
determined by genetic and biological influences. For example, Bowlby (1969) presented the
idea that innate behaviour that gave a survival advantage was inherited by the offspring via
natural selection, like attachment. Which meant that the infant was more likely to be
protected and survive, an example of the influence of nature.
However, the nurture side of the debate suggests that the environment directly influences
our behaviour and that we are born as a blank slate. Interactions with the world around us,
lead to new experiences which write on our blank slate, an example of the theory of
empiricism. This can be seen through research into classical and operant conditioning.
Research into plasticity supports both sides of the nature nurture debate. This can be seen
by Maguire (2000) who found that the areas of the brain linked to spatial memory such as
the hippocampus of London taxi drivers were more developed then non-taxi drivers.
Concluding the fact that, the hippocampus (nature) was directly influenced by being a taxi
driver and remembering routes (nurture).
It can be suggested that nature may exert a direct influence onto nurture. For example, an
aggressive person could possibly provoke aggressive tendencies onto another child in
triggering an aggressive gene. Plomin 1977 identified a parent-child interaction where a
genetically determined mental illness of the parent, could cause a change to the child’s
environment possibly leading to an unsettled home. Then specific behaviours and mental
health disorders such as schizophrenia, may be the result of indirect influence. This shows
the relationship between nature and nurture and how nature can have a direct impact on
nurture.
However, many now believe that both nature and nurture are important in determining
behaviour, adopting an interactionist approach of the diathesis-stress model. The diathesis-
stress model which suggests that not all children born with a biological vulnerability such as
a gene for a mental health disorder, will go on to develop this condition. This disorder can
only develop if a stressor in the environment triggers it, such as abuse as a child. Which
suggests that, nature can only be expressed under certain nurture conditions. The
interactionist approach has helped to develop knowledge and treatment for numerous
mental illnesses.
