“Findings of cross-cultural research in psychology have contributed much to our understanding of the roles of nature and nurture in various aspects of

development.”

Evaluate the accuracy of this statement with reference to psychological understandings related to self, others and society.

INTRO:

Human development is determined by a continuous interaction between heredity and the environment.

Define:

Cross-cultural studies:- examine the similarities and differences between cultures- use field data collected from many societies to test various psychological theories and hypotheses under diverse cultural conditions.- Cross-cultural studies are those in which participants from different cultural or subcultural backgrounds are observed, tested, and compared on some aspect (or aspects) of human development.

Development: the scientific study of the systematic psychological changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life span.

Nature vs. nurture debate: The question of whether nature, genetically inherited characteristics, or nurture, a person’s environment is more important in determining the course of human development.

Difference between twin studies + cross-cultural + why it can be used as an alternative:

Twin studies: a design of study in which the behavioural and physical traits of both identical twins, whose genetics are the same, and non-identical twins, whose genetics vary slightly, are compared to examine the role of nature and nurture in the development of these qualities. – limited/small sample size, lose participants, generalisations across all cultures

Cross-cultural as alternative: environment is the major difference – assumed the human genotype only varies slightly – large sample space, expensive, across multiple cultures – reduces generalisations

BODY:

Physical Development:

Define: changes in size, proportion, appearance, motor skills and coordination with age

x2 Examples of Cross-Cultural Research:

#1: Jerome Kagan - one of the major developmental biologists of the twentieth century- Infants in an isolated Indian village in Guatemala are kept inside the family’s

windowless hut for the first year of life in the belief that sunshine and air will cause sickeness. They have little opportunity to crawl about, and their parents seldom play with them. When these children are allowed to leave the hut, they are behind American children in physical skills. However, they do catch up and by the age of 3 are as well-coordinated as other children (Kagan and Klein, 1973)

#2:

Evidence of degree of nature + nurture:

Kagan concluded that children are very adaptable and that their biology promotes a regular developmental progression even under unfavourable circumstances

Cognitive Development:

Define: development of the learning structures and systems in the brain including the construction of thought processes such as memory and problem solving.

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

x2 Examples of Cross-Cultural Research:

Evidence of degree of nature + nurture:

Moral Development:

Define: the process through which individuals develop proper attitudes and behaviours toward other people in society, based on social and cultural norms, rules and laws.

x2 Examples of Cross-Cultural Research:

Evidence of degree of nature + nurture:

Social Development:

Define: the process which results in the transformation of social structures in a manner which improves the capacity of the society to fulfil its aspirations

x2 Examples of Cross-Cultural Research:

Evidence of degree of nature + nurture:

CONCLUSION:

Summary of evidence + evaluation of usefulness of cross-cultural studies in determining the influence of nature +nurture on the different processes in development:

REFERENCES:

http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/355/Jerome-Kagan.html