CM6 C1 Nature vs Nurture Debate

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​Today we will be looking at the last criteria for task 1 - C1!

The Nature versus Nurture debate

The concept of nature

(D3)

• Nature refers to our genetic inheritance. Inherited characteristics are decided by the genes we inherit from our parents.

• Sometimes our genes are responsible for genetic disorders, for example, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell
disease.

• Nativists believe that most of our development, personality and behaviour is determined by our genes and genetic evolution.

The concept of Nurture

(D3)

• Nurture refers to all the influences on us as we grow and develop.

• Environmentalists consider that the environment

has a greater influence than our genes do on how
we develop.

• Every child is a blank slate and it is the environment

that shapes individuals.

Why is this debate important? (C1)

• There are important ethical, economic and social implications for society

• Environmentalists suggest that personality, intelligence and behaviour are shaped by the environment so it is important to provide a nurturing and supportive environment to help individuals achieve their potential and contribute positively to society.

• How does Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning fit in to this debate?

Open Ended

According to Bandura's experiment (Bobo doll), he believed behaviour was a result of nature or nurture? Why?

The implications

• Ethically we should provide the best possible environment for all children to develop.

• The economic implications are that facilities have to be paid for.

• There are social implications too.
• Should the state intervene to modify the environment in family life if parents want to expose their children to violence?

Implications for Nature

• Some people are born with genes that predispose them to low intelligence or criminal behaviour.

• Such ideas at the beginning of the century led to the forced sterilisation of patients in psychiatric
hospitals. People with learning disabilities were
institutionalised and not allowed to marry.

• Sterilisation or isolation of these people who were deemed undesirable was used to modify the gene pool so that only desirable people were allowed to have children.

Ethics

• Today forced population control is seen as unethical and we value each person as an individual

• Gene therapy developed in the 90’s and the Human Genome project modify genes to eradicate hereditary diseases such
as cystic fibrosis. Gene therapy can also modify genes to
make “designer babies” with characteristics modified to
parental preferences.

Update

• Meta-analysis of the Heritability of Human Traits Based on 50 years of Twin Studies [2015]

• Polderman et al, available at www.nature.com/ng/journal/v47/n7/full/ng.3285.html

• Concluded that both nature and nurture have equal impact on individuals

Poll

Do you think violence comes from the genes?

• Yes

• No

• Partially

Is there a gene for violence?

• Researchers in Finland studied the genes of 900 offenders and found two genes linked to
violent criminal behaviour. Those with the gene were 13 times more likely to have repeated violent behaviour.

• However, most people with these genes do not commit crimes because they understand
the consequences of such behaviour and
choose not to be violent.

Difference between D3 and C1

•D3 Describe the concepts of nature and nurture in relation to human development and behaviour.

•Describe what nature relates to, this is our genetic and biological makeup.  What we inherit.  We often talk about how we have evolved and adapted to our environment.

•Nurture is concerned with our environment, how we raised.

•How does this relate to Human Growth and Development?

•C1  Explain the nature versus nurture debate.

•Explain the ‘interaction’ of nature/nurture on growth an development.

•You should refer to one or two theorists that support either side of the argument, a clear example is Bandura’s social learning.

•Bowlby believed our need for attachment was present at birth and compared this to imprinting.

Multiple Choice

Sometimes our genes are responsible for genetic disorders.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Nativists consider that the environment has a greater influence than our genes do on how we develop.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Bandura showed in his experiment that behaviour can be learned through modelling, which indicates that it's a result of...

• nurture
• nature

Next week

Task 1 is due on the week after half-term, so next week we will be focusing on recapping the criteria for this assignment. If you have any questions about C1 (this lesson) or any other criteria for task 1, please pop them on the next slide.


Feel free to ask anything - [e-mail] OR Vera Duarte on teams.

Open Ended

Any questions regarding C1 or any other criteria for task 1?