The nature/nurture debate looks at the origins of behaviour. Nature suggests that behaviour is determined by biological factors (genes, brain and chemicals) that are in place before birth, or through maturation. Nurture arguments suggest that behaviour is shaped by our environment, and that we are all product of surroundings. An interactionist view would suggest that both nature and nurture work together to shape our behaviour.
One approach that takes the nature perspective is the Physiological approach, as it states that behaviour stems from biology, brains and genes. One approach that takes the nurture view is the Behaviourist perspective. Behavioural psychologists use the idea of ‘Tabula Rasa’ in that all people are born as blank slates and that all behaviour is shaped and influenced by our surroundings and our environment.
One advantage of studying with both nature and nurture is that if we can understand what behaviours are learned, rather than innate, then we have the possibility of changing that behaviour for the better. For example, the study conducted by Bandura showed that when children were exposed to an aggressive model they learned to show the same aggressive acts. This shows if a child can learn aggression then we can prohibit what children are exposed to and therefore what they are/ aren’t learning. For example putting age ratings on films and having the watershed for tv.
A weakness of studying nature and nurture can be that it is difficult to separate out the effects of heredity and environment and researchers may expose participants to negative stimuli in an attempt to access the impact of the environment. This therefore raises ethical issues, particularly linked to the protection of participants.
A further benefit of studying nature and nurture is that if we know what behaviour is innate, rather than learned, then we can recognise that people cannot be blamed for it, as they have no choice. Instead of being punished for undesirable behaviours, they should be treated or made aware that they are susceptible to health issues and know how to access help. Raine discovered that brain dysfunction can cause criminal behaviour. The murderers in Raine’s study pleaded not guilty due to reasons of insanity, and evidence from their PET scans showed abnormal activity in the brain. However, this view can be seen a deterministic as although the behaviour may not be their fault they still committed the crime and still deserve to be punished for it.
A further drawback of studying both nature and nurture is that as genes and environment are often combine together to affect our behaviour, there may be evidence for both nature and nurture affecting behaviour but often researchers only focus on one or the other. This can lead to problems of reductionism.
Overall I feel that it is important to consider both nature and nurture when looking at behaviour as I feel that they both have an impact on a person and their behaviour/decisions and that one is not more important than the other when influencing a person.
Jenny Andrew said:
The nature-nurture debate is a very influential topic in psychology as a lot of subject areas have to answer the question was it affected by nature or nurture. For example in gender development, the biological approach believes that gender is determined by chromosomes, the 23rd pair determines our gender, however the social learning theory believes that gender is learnt through observation and imitation of identifiable same sex role models. If both nature and nurture was used in psychology, it would provide a better insight into that area, the interactionist approach of gender development argues that sex chromosomes guide developments towards a certain gender but experience has a influence on how gender develops.
psuf2e said:
I agree with your overall conclusion that it is essential to consider both the nature and nurture approaches when accurately determining what influences a individuals behaviour. However it is an easy option to conclude with this balance and it would be nice to know which side of this argument you consider to be the most influential. Bandura’s Bobo doll study is a great example of a nurture influence, where the participants copied the behaviour displayed to them by the models. You could have discussed this study in more detail though, for example the young boy participants copied more behaviours when the model was a man, and the girl participants copied more from a female model. This suggests that the nurture argument is more influential when the participant and model are more closely related.
abbiemorgan92 said:
I have to agree with your conclusion, in that both nature and nurture must be considered. It is an on-going debate. Examples like feral children show how nurture can have a massive influence over their behaviour despite their genetics. For example, Amala and Kamala who were raised by wolves, although there is mixed research, that considers they may have been autisitic. Also the case study of Genie shows how due to her childhood of confinement which caused her behaviour to be severely affected as she struggled to communicate with people etc, again showing that nuture can have a large influence. Overall it can depend on the individual as the influence of both nature and nurture can differ in each case.
anastasiaelizarova said:
As a debate typically approached, on a ubiquitous level concerning psychology, and within our blogs, it is one to be stuck within a seemingly infinite regress. The interactionist view, as aforementioned within the entry, is one that permits logic and understanding to reign. It is evident our characteristics mold as we grow, our circumstances and experiences essentially ‘condition’ whom we become. Hence, I agree, extensively, with your assertions. Within your example of tabula rasa, however, a weakness lies; in order to make sense of how one potentially perceives, and makes sense of the world, a rationally inclined, sceptical mind may propose certain pre-existing ‘innate’ notions are present within the mind, including mathematical truisms, and the faculties of faith, morality and linguistics. Additionally, they obtain significant aspects which may exclude the proposed notion of the mind devoid of thought, primarily including universal applicability. Consequently, suggesting that impending fundamental predispositions are rooted in the mind, waiting to engage and gradually develop to their potential. The behavioural theory of tabula rasa is capable of being subject to nullification and with further assessment, falsification. Additionally coinciding, we are encapsulated by the influence of those whom we look up to – the notion of nurture. The mention of Bandura’s mention is the epitome example of modelling despite primarily concerning the aggressive facade of behaviour. What one must acknowledge, in regards to environment, is their contributions, yet ‘deny their agency’ (Gesell, 1992). Thank you for the entry, written with clarity and with a distinct tone.
Anastasia
Arnold L. Gesell: The paradox of nature and nurture.(1992)
karenlovesfaan said:
This controversy is popular among our blogs. Interestingly, there are some topics such as “whether criminals are born or made” and it would come back to the root of the question about nature and nurture again, which shows the importance of this issue.
I think your article is a well-structured one with deep explanation. I agree with your overall point that both nature and nurture work together to shape an individual’s behavior. Besides, I appreciate that you mentioned the pros and cons of studying nature and nurture as most other bloggers would not write about this aspect. And I totally agree with your view of advantages that you can know how to improve better behavior when you understood it. Also, when you think logically and critically, you can analyze why someone do such things…etc. Then, you will feel much better and happier when you understand that there may be some reasons before one individual’s behavior.
Halbstadt said:
Reasons now being paid aPersonal mortgage
You dine a time frame upon your personal loan. loan durations are sai
months, e.g. 12, 2four, 36, forty eight, including 60.
Lohger compensation periods ower yoyr magazinelolan repayment , however
in addition they imply you compensation extra contained bby curiosity than if you happen to had a shorter reimbursement interval.
Your rate of interest maay also be tied on yur repaymet interval.
for instance, you might have a lower rate of intesrest by shorter repayment intervals.
solid could also be a penalty during reimburseg your mortgage on early.
Unsecured privat mortgage charges
How before a personal bank mortgage. a private banmk mortgage usually takes one among team
kinds: unsecured includig secured. An unsecured private bank mortgage is given without collateral at a higher interest rate,
also a secured financial innstitution loan makes use of collateral over acquire better compensation terms, lowered charges andd a more advantageous rate
of interest.
High danger personal loan bannks provide too mortgage cash
to customers by means of in need credit scores imllying they can repay charge and…
Aggressive calls against a group agency:Banks end
up promoting herre defaulted loans over other companies.
They rent collection businesses facxing call
also put in youuntil you paymnt agaiin your loan (neither a
appearance off magic).
Before you skull disappointed that highway, it is in all probability a good
idea so perform a sanity verify. inside 2012, the
common American had $15,95zero contained by
bank card receipt and private bankruptcies are quite
common.
Customer discover:a personal loan is a web-based loan ranging typically against $1,zero0zero to $35,zerozerozero.
private loans are supposed for brief-term monetary relief and don’t represent lengthy-term monetary solutions.
customers dealing with proposal also credit difficulties oought to hunt down receipt and crddit score advisory assist.you’ll not carry out charged
either fees to use personalloans.coms companies.
Personal Loans document ConsolidationLoan UsesRates
& Calculators HelpContact Us FAQsHow to get a personal LoanArticles
A extra private mortgage
Loans authorized contained by mcontained byutes, take stated choose loan sort & amount next to the shape before the right
Mitch Harvilicz said:
obviously like your website but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.|