Psychology: Nature vs Nurture Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Nature' refer to in psychology?

People behave as a result of random chance.

People behave according to learned experiences.

People behave due to environmental influences.

People behave based on genetic and biological factors. (correct)

What does the term 'Nurture' indicate in psychological behavior?

Behavior is unchanged throughout life.

Behavior is solely determined by genetics.

Behavior is influenced by teachings and observations. (correct)

Biological instincts guide people's behavior.

Name one common method of collecting data in psychology.

Infant studies

Who is Dr. Thomas Bouchard?

A researcher who studied twins to demonstrate the impact of genetics on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following studies provide evidence to support 'Nurture'?

Chaney et al Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ontogenic Approach?

The process by which individuals change and develop throughout their lifespan, considering genetic and environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

What did Bandura demonstrate about children's behavior?

Aggression can be learned through role models. Signup and view all the answers

Ecological validity is a strength of controlled laboratory studies.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a weakness of DNA analysis in the context of schizophrenia?

It cannot predict the onset of the disease, only the predisposition. Signup and view all the answers

If behavior is controlled by genetic influences, we have many choices in life.

False Signup and view all the answers

How can individual explanations be related to the nature vs nurture debate?

Individual explanations may correlate with nature (inherited traits), whereas situational explanations may relate to nurture (environmental influences). Signup and view all the answers

What is a problem with ontogeny theory?

The lack of reliable evidence to demonstrate the influence of the environment on genes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nature vs Nurture

Nature refers to the influence of biological factors and instincts on behavior.
Nurture emphasizes environmental influences, teaching, and situational factors in shaping behavior.

Common Methods of Data Collection

Infant studies provide insights into early behavioral development.
Twin and family studies compare similarities between genetically related individuals.
Research on adopted and fostered children helps understand the impact of environment versus genetics.
Gene mapping studies investigate the links between specific genes and behaviors.

Evidence Supporting Nature

Dr. Thomas Bouchard’s research on identical twins raised apart highlights the significant role of genetics in behavior.
Twin studies suggest a strong hereditary component in various psychological traits.

Evidence Supporting Nurture

Research by Bandura showcases how children can model aggressive behaviors observed in role models.
Chaney et al's studies further illustrate environmental influences on behavior.

The Ontogenic Approach

Ontogeny refers to individual development throughout life, integrating genetic and environmental factors.
The approach highlights the varying impact of environment on genes at different life stages.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Nature vs Nurture Debate

Bandura's controlled studies provide reliable data on behavior modeling, but lack ecological validity and consideration for individual differences.
Gottesman and Shields employ dependable DNA analysis to study predisposition to schizophrenia, yet findings cannot predict disease onset without environmental interaction.

Free Will vs Determinism

A strong genetic influence on behavior suggests limited personal choice, aligning with determinist perspectives.

Individual vs Situational Debate

Individual explanations focus on innate traits (nature), while situational explanations highlight the effects of external influences (nurture) on behavior.

Ontogenic Explanations

Current ontogeny theory lacks robust evidence for environmental influences on genetic behavior, though it is a logical framework for understanding development.

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of nature and nurture in psychology with these flashcards. Understand how biology and environment contribute to human behavior. Test your knowledge and enhance your understanding of this important debate in psychology.