Nature vs Nurture Debate
This page introduces the fundamental concepts of nature vs nurture in psychology, exploring how innate and environmental factors influence human development and behavior.
Nature refers to innate, genetic influences that may appear at any stage of life. The page highlights genetic explanations for conditions like schizophrenia, noting that monozygotic (MZ) twins are more likely to both develop the disorder compared to dizygotic (DZ) twins. Evolutionary explanations are also mentioned, such as Bowlby's theory that attachment is adaptive for survival and reproduction.
Nurture encompasses the social and physical environment and experiences that shape an individual. The page discusses behaviorist perspectives, including classical and operant conditioning in attachment formation. Social learning theory is also introduced, suggesting that while the urge to be aggressive may be biological, the expression of aggression is learned through reinforcement.
The document emphasizes that nature and nurture cannot be separated, using analogies like the length and width of a rectangle. It also introduces concepts like diathesis-stress, which proposes that a person's nature (diathesis) is only expressed under certain environmental conditions (stressors).
Highlight: The interplay between nature and nurture is complex, with genetic factors influencing environmental experiences (indirect genetic influences) and environmental factors affecting gene expression (neural plasticity and epigenetics).
Example: The document mentions Maguire et al.'s study of spatial memory in taxi drivers as an example of how experience (nurture) can affect brain structure (nature).
Vocabulary: Epigenetics refers to material in each cell that acts as switches to turn genes on and off, which can be passed on to subsequent generations.
