This lesson is being

recorded
 Go on to the learning
Starter - Discussion platform and contribute
to the class discussion. 5
minutes to share your
thoughts

Nature vs Nurture
Which is the most influential in our brain development?
Remember:

Think about factors you explored last lesson e.g., prenatal environment
(mother smoking, infection, alcoholic mother), parental influence as we develop, punishment)

Think about factors you explored last lesson e.g., prenatal environment
(mother smoking, infection, alcoholic mother), parental influence as we develop, punishment)
Week 2 PSY Lead
Nature v Nurture
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Key
words:
Understand how the nature vs nurture debate relates to
development
Nature
Nurture
Twin
studies
Give arguments for the nature side of the debate Monozyg
otic
Dizygotic
Diathesi
s-stress

To be able to define the terms nature and nurture

Key words

Nature
Nurture
Twin studies
Monozygotic
Dizygotic
Diathesis-stress
Epigenetics
Debate

One of the oldest arguments in the history of psychology is the  Nature vs Nurture debate.

Each of these sides have good points so it's really hard to decide whether a person's
development is predisposed in their DNA, or a majority of it is influenced by their life
experiences and the environment.
Nature side Nurture side

 A strong emphasis on the role of genes. It What makes a human truly unique is
is essential for all aspects of development. their life experience. This includes the
 Genes affect the development of the body, people we spend time with.
they control the growth of the brain The way parents and guardians bring
 Twin studies have found that MZ twins them up
tend to be more similar in intelligence and Parenting is a key role in a child’s
mental health than DZ twins educational success
 Can not put mental health and Culture is important in how people
personality to a single gene. It tends to be develop. E.g. body language and
a mixture of genes and can change over gestures
time.
Nature

One way to support the nature argument is by using twin studies.

Monozygotic twins (MZ) are genetically identical and Dizygotic
twins (DZ) only share approximately 50% of their genes.

A study of fraternal and identical twins found that babies’ sleeping

patterns are determined primarily by genetics.

Similarly, 60% of a baby’s temperament is set by their genetic

makeup; whether they are sociable or shy is also primarily driven
by genes.

Also controlled primarily by heredity are the foods a baby prefers

and whether the baby is active or sedentary.

(https://online.maryville.edu/blog/nature-vs-nurture-child-
development)
Time to think

What are the problems with twin studies when researching the nature/nurture debate?

Put your thoughts into the poll.

Nurture

Learning theories support this nurture side of the debate,

believing that we learn through association and our behaviours
are a response to environmental stimulus. Our behaviour is
therefore determined by our environment.

“For example, babies with poor sleep patterns can benefit from
being exposed to sunlight during the day and by parents
establishing a bedtime routine that induces better sleep.

Whether a baby is easy to calm and soothe when crying is

determined by genes, but swaddling, rocking, swaying, and other
activities help overcome this genetic predisposition”

(https://online.maryville.edu/blog/nature-vs-nurture-child-
development)
 Combining the sides
• Both sides of the argument may be correct on different occasions. Some psychological attributes
such as personality might be largely genetic, while others such as criminal behaviour may be
more to do with upbringing and culture.

• Any genetic influences on skills and personality could have an effect on later life experiences.

• For example, someone who was born with a more relaxed and outgoing personality might make
friends more easily and this would affect their life experiences.

• So genes and life experiences do not have separate

effects on an individual, but work in combination.

• Genes and the environment interact biologically. This is

known as EPIGENETICS. It is one of the reasons why a gene
might be expressed or not, along with other aspects such as
developmental age.
The interactionist approach

Do you think the Nature/Nurture

positions are too extreme?

The interactionist approach suggests

that both are involved in shaping
behaviour.

E.g., a child’s innate temperament will

influence the ways his/her parents will
respond to him/her. And their response
will in turn affect the child’s behaviour.
Research by Eliot, 2007 Example:

If you learn to play the

•Genes and environment each account for about 50 percent of piano, the hours that
brain and mental development. you spend practicing
• According to Eliot, experience alters brain structures will change the
according to two activity-driven rules: structure of the brain
(nurture). During the
learning process, cell
•“Cells that fire together wire together” (Hebb’s theory) assemblies will fire
(meaning that the connections among cells that are highly together and the more
active are preserved and strengthened, leading to more
efficient functioning of the brain).
this happens the
stronger these
connections. This
•2) “Use it or lose it” (“it” being brain connections, which leads to these
are pruned away in areas of the brain that are under-active). neurons becoming
more efficient.
•Overproducing synapses as the brain grows allows the brain
to select those that are most useful or active and prune the
inactive synapses (used less)
Diathesis-stress model

Diathesis-stress model: Models of

mental illness which emphasise the
interaction of nature and nurture tend to
be the most persuasive.

The diathesis-stress model suggests

that psychopathology is caused by a
biological/genetic vulnerability (the
diathesis) which is only expressed when
coupled with a biological or
environmental ‘trigger’ (the stressor).
Quick check

01 02 03
What term describes What is the name of Explain the diathesis-
the situation where a the approach that stress model? Can
gene is not switched combines both you give an
on due to a lack of nature and nurture? example?
environmental
stimulation?
Answers

What term describes the

situation where a gene is not What is the name of the
switched on due to a lack of Epigenetics approach that combines both
environmental stimulation? nature and nurture?

Some people may have a

genetic vulnerability to some
Interactionist Explain the diathesis-stress psychological disorders
model? Can you give an (diathesis) and the
approach example? environment can become a
STRESS and trigger the
disorder later in life.
Learning Objectives

Understand how the nature vs nurture debate relates to

development

Give arguments for the nature side of the debate

To be able to define the terms nature and nurture

LESSON COMPLETE!
SEE YOU NEXT LESSON