nature vs nurture (issues and debates

what should be included in this debate?

define nature and nurture. what research methods are used. evaluation of the debate. how is the debate present in the approaches.

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define nature

what we are born with including any processes that develop as we mature. Says we are all genetically programmed to behave in a certain way. Subtle differences in the nervous system mean certain people more likely to develop specific characteristics

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define nurture

effect of our environment and experiences. concerned with all external influences e.g. family, friends. Learning behaviour through interaction and socialisation

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EVALUATE: is it really a debate?/is it just solely nature OR nurture?

no - it is difficult to separate nature and nurture whilst still studying meaningful behaviour e.g. a genetic predisposition to a characteristic can often be changed by the environment. not 100% concordance rates suggests both nature and nurture

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EVALUATE: the research methods used to study this

animal studies, twin studies and adoption studies. hard to generalise for all.

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EVALUATION: cross-cultural studies

used to study the debate 2 see if universal/cultural specific behaviour. problem because there are natural differences between people of the same culture just like there are similarities 4 people of diff cultures. hard to control other variables.

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EVALUATION: reductionist

looking at solely nature or solely nurture is reductionist because you are not studying human behaviour as a whole only parts of a behaviour

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biological approach

genes, hormones and neurotransmitters are the primary things that determine behaviour. evidence: Gottesman found higher concordance rate for schizo with MZ twins + Money found that gender is determined before birth

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learning approach

interactions with our environment determine behaviour. born tabula rasa with no influence of genes etc. on our behaviour. evidence: learning through classical and operant conditioning.

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social approach

society affects people and their behaviour. people are socialised and learn social norms. evidence: development of prejudiced beliefs through social identity theory. evolved to act as agents in society + form groups:aids survival so is innate- nature

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cognitive approach

NURTURE: use environmental cues are used to help people remember. NATURE: information processing in the brain takes place a set way + explains why we can remember little of our childhood...brain was maturing during the early years.

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psychodynamic approach

NURTURE: role of parents (oedipus complex). society determines the superego. NATURE: fixed psychosexual stages of development, the unconscious, ID EGO SUPEREGO

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health psychology

NURTURE: social learning theory explanation for substance misuse and token economy works as a treatment. NATURE: down regulation, withdrawal

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criminological psychology

NURTURE: social learning theory and self fulfilling prophecy say environmental cause of criminal behaviour. NATURE: born a criminal because of your brain structure- Raine

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clinical psychology

NURTURE: Brown found those with a support system are less likely to develop depression. Talking therapies. NATURE: element of heredity in mental disorders...Gottesman's study into concordance rates of schizophrenia. drug therapy as a treatment

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nature vs nurture (issues and debates

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