Nature vs Nurture Debate in Psychology
The nature vs nurture debate is a fundamental issue in psychology:
- Nature: Behavior and thinking result from genes, evolution, and biological factors
- Nurture: Behavior is learned or acquired through environmental experiences
Vocabulary: Interactionist approach: Accepts that both nature and nurture are interconnected in shaping human behavior
Definition: Epigenetics: Changes in genetic activity without altering the gene itself, resulting from environmental interactions
Example: Bowlby's theory of monotropy supports the nurture side, while explanations of OCD as frontal lobe abnormalities support the nature side.
Understanding this debate is essential for addressing Issues and Debates Psychology exam questions related to nature vs nurture.
Holism vs Reductionism in Psychology
This page introduces two contrasting approaches to studying human behavior:
- Holism: Studying an indivisible system rather than breaking it down into parts
- Reductionism: Understanding behavior by studying smaller constituent parts
Definition:
- Biological reductionism: Explaining social and psychological phenomena at a biological level
- Environmental reductionism: Explaining behavior in terms of stimulus-response links learned through experience
Idiographic vs Nomothetic Approaches
The page briefly mentions the idiographic approach, which focuses on individual cases to understand behavior. This contrasts with the nomothetic approach, which seeks general laws applicable to all individuals.
These concepts are crucial for students preparing for AQA A level Psychology Issues and Debates examinations and understanding key debates in the field.
