Nature vs Nurture

Introduction to the BIG Debate

What do we mean?

• Nature – define what you think you know

• Nurture – define what you think you know

Psychological Research

• Perception – two main theories

– Gibson’s direct theory

– Gregory’s constructivist theory

Intelligence

• Twins and adoption

• Gene mapping

• Nurture

Mental Illness and Nature

•Schizophrenia

•Biological parents

Nature

• Purely genetic?

• Bandura study – Aggression/ anti social behaviour

• EEA – Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness

• Theories and speculation!

Nurture

• Conditioning –

Affected by innate factors. Mineka (et al) showed that monkeys more easily acquired a fear of snakes (ancient fear) than something like fear of a flower.

Even the capacity to learn is innate?

Perception

• Gibson’s Theory

• Gregory’s View

• Blakemore and Cooper

Intelligence

• IQ test explained?

• Minimising and maximising

• Poor environmental factors?

• Turkheimer – gene factors or not?

Mental Illness

• Diathesis – stress model

• Nature and Nurture

• Adopted Children

• Tienari (et al)

Conclusion

• Overall both Nature and Nurture have an effect on all:

Behaviours although for certain behaviours one factor MAY be more influential

Vocabulary• Assumptions

• Theories

• Inferences

• Paradigm

• Innate

• Ambiguous

• Fragmentary

• Eugenics

• Derived