Paper 3:

Issues and
Key Terms for KO Debates
• Interactionist approach
• Diathesis-stress model
• Relative contribution Nature vs.
• Nativists
• Empiricists
Nurture
• Epigenetics
• Niche picking
 H I S TO RY

Nature-Nurture Debate
 This debate has a long history in Psychology

 Psychologists used to consider whether behaviour was

due to nature or nurture or in other words What is the
relative importance or contribution of heredity and
environment in determining behaviour?

However, advances in technology

such as genetic testing, have
revealed that it isn’t so simple –
more about that later
 DEFINITIONS
The environment is seen as everything
outside the body which can include
people, events and the physical world.

NATURE NURTURE
 Nature is the view that  Nurture is the view that
behaviour is the product behaviour is the product
of innate biological or of environmental
genetic factors. influences.

Heredity (genetic
inheritance) is the process
in which traits are passed
down from one generation
to the next.
 E X T R E M E S TA N C E S

NATURE NURTURE
 Approaches, theories or  Approaches, theories or
studies that only consider studies that only consider
nature are called nativists nature are called
empiricists. ‘Tabula
rasa’

Explain why both of these extreme stances are

a limited view of human behaviour

Can you include an example of each?


NATURE
 Nature is the view that
behaviour is the product
of innate biological or
genetic factors.
Heredity (genetic inheritance)
is the process in which traits
are passed down from one
generation to the next.
SYNOPTIC LINK
1st EXAMPLE OF
NATURE
Bowlby proposed that children come into
the world biologically programmed to
form attachments because this will help
them to survive (evolutionary)
This suggests attachment behaviours are
naturally selected, and passed on as a
result of genetic inheritance (heredity
mechanisms).
Behaviour =
Attachment

Cause =
Innate/Biological
Factors

NATURE
 Nature is the view that
behaviour is the product
of innate biological or
genetic factors.
Heredity (genetic inheritance)
is the process in which traits
are passed down from one
generation to the next.
SYNOPTIC LINK
2ND EXAMPLE OF
NATURE
Genetic explanation for OCD
Nesdadt – twin study
MZ – 68% concordance
DZ – 31% concordance
What does concordance mean?
Why is this evidence for nature causing
OCD?

EXAMPLE OF
NURTURE
Behavioural psychologists explain events and the physical world.
attachment in terms of classical
conditioning, where food (UCS) is
associated with the mother (NS), and
through many repeated pairings, the
mother becomes a CS who elicits a CR in
the child. Therefore, the child forms an
attachment based on the pleasure
experienced as a result of being fed.
EXAMPLE
The environment is seen as
everything outside the body
which can include people,
NURTURE
 Nurture is the view that
behaviour is the product of
environmental influences.

Behaviour = Attachment
Cause = Classical Conditioning
[Learning – Environment]
 DEFINITIONS

NURTURE
The interactionist approach is the
NATURE

view that both nature and nurture

work together to shape human
behaviour.
 EXAMPLE OF THE INTERACTIONIST
APPROACH
This approach says that psychology (thoughts and
behavior) are caused by an interaction between nature
and nurture.

Schizophrenia for example, and any mental health

disorder, is not entirely genetic.

SZ is an example of interactionist approach called

NURTURE
NATURE

diathesis-stress
The diathesis is the biological cause (genes)
The stress is the environment acting as a trigger.
This means the predisposition occurs and the person
develops schizophrenia

Specific genes make SZ more likely (nature) but it has

to be triggered by the environment shown by some MZ
twin pairs not sharing the disorder (nurture).
 INTERACTIONIST

The Diathesis-Stress Model

Recent research suggests that it does not make sense to
separate nature and nurture. Instead, we should consider the
relative contribution of both and how they interact with each
other.

This had led to the

development of the diathesis-
stress model:
 Diathesis = genetic
vulnerability
 Stress = environmental
trigger
 INTERACTIONIST

Diathesis-Stress Model applied to

alcohol addiction

Individual differences and loading – different people have different

sized cups. They can more or less stress before a disorder is
triggered.
 NOT SO SIMPLE

Nature and Nurture have reciprocal

effects
 Niche picking – is a psychological theory that people
choose environments that complement their heredity

 For example, naturally aggressive or extroverted people

may seek out people like themselves. Spending time with
these people may further influence their development and
behaviour.

 Therefore mature and nurture are not two entities that can
simply be pulled apart.
 INTERACTIONIST

Cutting Edge
Research: Epigenetics
 We’ve seen how our environment can trigger our genetically inherited
characteristics but cutting-edge research has found that our interaction
with the environment can actually leave marks on our DNA. We call
this Epigenetics.

 Aspects of our lifestyle or events we encounter (such as smoking, diet,

trauma, war) leave marks on our DNA (genes), which switch genes on
and off. Even more remarkably these epigenetic changes have been
found to go on and influence the genetic codes of our children, as well
as their children.
 EPIGENETICS
Cutting Edge
Research: Epigenetics
One study conditioned a
fear of a chemical
(acetophenome) in mice.
They found that due to
epigenetics the next two
generations of mice
showed an aversion and
fear of the chemical
without ever being exposed
themselves.

Epigenetics therefore introduces a third element to the nature-nurture

debate – the life experience of previous generations.
 HOMEWORK
Log into the 2nd year ebook (pink haired girl)

Year 2Click on this link –https://illuminate.digital/aqapsych2edy2/ 

Student Username:SWARWICK8 
Student Password:PINK8 

Read through pages 100 and 101 on the nature vs. nurture debate - be prepared to
answer questions on AO1 and AO3 at the start of next lesson. 
Particularly focus on being able to define the following key terms:

• Interactionist approach
• Diathesis-stress model
• Relative contribution
• Nativists Due: Tuesday 13th September
• Empiricists
• Epigenetics All on Teams
• Niche picking
 STARTER

Define the following key terms

1. Nature-nurture debate
2. Nativists
3. Empiricists
4. Diathesis-stress model
5. Niche picking
6. Epigenetics
5 mins
 ANSWERS

How do we put all this together in an essay?

You need to know what each side suggests AND show understanding that
there is a debate between the two.
 MODEL AO1
AO1 Plan
Key terms/ideas to include:
• Debate has a long history in Psychology - used to separate
them to consider whether behaviour was due to nature vs.
Nurture - the relative importance of heredity and environment
in determining behaviour
• Nature side of the debate is founded in nativist theory that
knowledge and behaviour is innate
• Nurture side of the debate is founded in empiricist theory that
knowledge derives from learning and experience 'tabula rasa'
or blank states. Also a limited view
• Recent research and technology shows its not that simple -
how do they interact with each other -
interactionism/diathesis-stress model - OCD. Nature and
nurture have reciprocal effects
 

Finished? Read through the PEEL points below

 PRACTICE

Discuss the nature-nurture debate in psychology. Refer to at least

two topics you have studied in your answer (16 marks)
What about this essay?
Where are you including the two topics? AO1 or AO3?
 

How else can this appear in the exam?

Short answer and application questions