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The Nature vs Nurture debate - Coggle Diagram
The Nature vs Nurture debate
Nature vs Nurture
Nature: genetic influences + other biological factors
Debate about influences on human behaviour
Nurture: external influences on development e.g. environment you grow up in or social influences
Certain physical characteristics are biologically determined by genetic inheritance e.g. eye color
Other physical characteristics appear strongly influenced by the genetic make-up of the birth parents e.g. height + life expectancy
Debate: are psychological characteristics such as behaviour tendencies + personality traits 'wired in' or influence by the environment
Bowlby's theory of attachment is a biological perspective of development (nature) - bond between mother and child as being a innate language acquisition device also comes from a biological perspective
Bandura's social leaning theory, based on understanding environmental influences on development (nurture) + children learning through imitation + role modelling
Maturation: characteristics + differences not observed at birth but emerge later in life
Based on nature perspective - assumption that everyone has an inner 'biological clock', which determines what rate physical development occurs
Theories are a helpful guide but don't provide the answers as to whether development throughout the lifespan is down to nature or nurture
Development as a result of genetic or inherited factors
Gesell's maturation theory
Psychologist + paediatrician Arnold Gesell interested in children's biological maturation (part of their growth determined by genetically determined physiological processes)
1940s-1950s: new methodology or 'normative approach' to researching child development. Observed large numbers of children to find skills + abilities most children had at each age
Findings used to establish 'norms' or milestones for each developmental aspect
Each child moves through a sequence at their own pace
Conclusion: development is predetermined + environment had little influence. If a child experiences delayed development, the problem is heredity rather than due to environment + circumstances
Milestones help measure a child's development but important to recognise individual differences in children due to environmental factors
Critics: maturation theory is not helpful in explaining individual or cultural differences or for children with learning difficulties
Development as a result of environmental factors
Bandura's social learning theory
Albert Bandura (1961) based observations of learning occurring through observing behaviour of others
Young children model behaviours of people around them including negative behaviours e.g. driving or using a mobile phone or hitting
4 stages of learning
Child notices the behaviour of another person - likely to be someone close to them e.g. older sibling
The child 'internalises' the action by remembering what they observed
May not copy straight away but they will reproduce the behaviour when the opportunity occurs
Depending on outcome (positive or negative reinforcement) they will either repeat behaviour or desist
Based his theory on a famour experiment using a Bobo doll which he deomstrated that children learn + copy aggressive behaviour by observing adults behaving agressively
Demonstrates importance of modelling appropriate behaviours
Stress-diathesis model
Psychological model helps to explain how stress caused by life events (nurture) can interact with a person's genetic vulnerability (nature) + impact on mental wellbeing
A person who has a genetic predisposition to a psychological disorder might never develop the disorder if have experienced no stress in life
Diathesis: some individuals are born with certain biological or genetic predispositions to a mental illness
High levels of stress e.g. family conflict, abuse, trauma + problems at school can trigger the onset for those with a predisposition