Nature / Nurture Debate

Question 1

In the Nature vs Nurture debate what does nature mean?

Answer 1

The genetic inheritance and other biological factors that influence our behaviour.

Question 2

In the Nature vs Nurture debate what does nurture mean?

Answer 2

The external influences on development such as the environment or social influences.

Question 3

What are two Nature Theorists?

Answer 3

• Bowlby’s theory of attachment is a

Question 4

What are two Nature Theories?

Answer 4

• Bowlby’s theory of attachment is a biological perspective of development as the bond between mother and child is innate.
• Chomsky’s proposal of language is developed through innate language acquisition

Question 5

Explain a Nurture Theory?

Answer 5

• Bandura’s Social Learning Theory believes that our environment effects our development and that children learn through imitation and role modelling.

Question 6

What is Gessell’s maturation theory?

Answer 6

He developed a ‘normative’ approach to researching child development which involves observing large number of children to find skills and abilities most children had in each age group.

He noted that each child moved the sequence at their own pace. He determined that development was predetermined, and that the environment had little influence.

Question 7

How was Gessell’s Research still useful to this day?

Answer 7

Milestones are helpful to measure the child’s development and to recognise individual differences in children that are influenced by environmental factors.

Question 8

What is Bandura’s Social Learning Theory?

Answer 8

His learning theory is based on learning through observing the behaviours of others.

Question 9

What were Bandura’s 4 stages of behavioural learning.

Answer 9

• Child notices the behaviour
• Child ‘internalises’ the behaviour by remembering what they saw.
• Reproduce the behaviour when opportunity occurs.
• Lastly, depending on if it was positively or negatively reinforced, children will either repeat or desist.

Question 10

What was Bandura’s famous experiment?

Answer 10

The bobo doll experiment where it demonstrated that children learn and copy aggressive behaviour by observing adults acting aggressively.

Question 11

What is the stress-diathesis model?

Answer 11

The stress-diathesis model is what helps explain how stress cause from life events can interact with a person’s genetic vulnerability to impact their wellbeing.

A person who has genetic predisposition to a mental illness may never develop it if they do not experience overwhelming stress.