8.1.13

Nature-Nurture Approaches

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Psychological Approaches - Nature/Nurture Debate

There are five psychological approaches: psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, behaviourist, and humanistic. They vary on where they fall on the nature-nurture spectrum.

Illustrative background for The psychodynamic approachIllustrative background for The psychodynamic approach ?? "content

The psychodynamic approach

  • The psychodynamic approach is an interaction of nature and nurture.
  • Freud believed that personalities were due to both innate instincts (nature) and experiences (nurture).
    • The instincts manifest themselves in the id (the animalistic drive to find food, mates and shelter).
Illustrative background for The psychodynamic approach cont.Illustrative background for The psychodynamic approach cont. ?? "content

The psychodynamic approach cont.

  • But experiences will also influence and shape personality.
    • For example, experiences during certain stages can result in fixations.
  • If a child experiences too much pleasure during the oral stage of development, this can result in oral fixations such as smoking or nail-biting.
Illustrative background for The biological approachIllustrative background for The biological approach ?? "content

The biological approach

  • The biological approach is solely a nature approach.
  • The approach looks at the role of genetics, brain structure, brain chemistry, and behaviour.
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The biological approach cont.

  • Generally, genetic traits are passed down from generation to generation if they are advantageous to our survival.
    • For example, aggression in males and caring in females is beneficial to the survival of offspring.
  • But because learning can happen, the environment still has influence.
    • For example, learning can overcome genetic predispositions in brain structure.

Psychological Approaches - Nature/Nurture Debate

There are five psychological approaches: psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, behaviourist, and humanistic. They vary on where they fall on the nature-nurture spectrum.

Illustrative background for The cognitive approachIllustrative background for The cognitive approach ?? "content

The cognitive approach

  • The cognitive approach leans towards the nature side. But there is some influence of the environment.
  • The cognitive development theory by Piaget states that for innate genetic processes to happen, environmental influences still must be present.
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Piaget

  • Piaget states that all children are born with the innate ability to develop.
  • These are in the form of reflexes and senses.
  • But these need to have environmental input to progress.
Illustrative background for The behaviourist approachIllustrative background for The behaviourist approach ?? "content

The behaviourist approach

  • The behaviourist approach, as opposed to the biological approach, falls deeply on the nurture side.
  • Social learning relies heavily on those surrounding the person.
  • Behaviours are learnt from others through conditioning.
  • The few exceptions would be innate abilities like swallowing, blinking, breathing, etc.
Illustrative background for The humanistic approach Illustrative background for The humanistic approach  ?? "content

The humanistic approach

  • Finally, the humanistic approach also falls on the nurture end of the spectrum with one component on the nature side.
  • Self-actualisation is when a person achieves their full potential.
  • There is a basic need to want to do so. So this is one component of the humanistic approach that is on the nature side.
  • To be able to self-actualise, people need to experience the world. So the environment is crucial.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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