HEREDITY VS ENVIRONMENT Goal: To develop a clear understanding of the interaction between heredity and environmental factors- “nature vs nurture” in influencing psychological development. NATURE VS NURTURE

HEREDITY (NATURE) Heredity: involves the transmission of characteristics from biological parents to their offspring via genes at the time of conception. The genes we inherit from our parents influence many aspects of our physical development for example: our blood type, eye and hair colour, body shape and the likelihood of developing certain physical illnesses or disorders. Psychological characteristics such as intelligence and personality have a genetic component Heredity: involves the transmission of characteristics from biological parents to their offspring via genes at the time of conception. The genes we inherit from our parents influence many aspects of our physical development for example: our blood type, eye and hair colour, body shape and the likelihood of developing certain physical illnesses or disorders. Psychological characteristics such as intelligence and personality have a genetic component Heredity (nature)- genes/characteristics passed on by our parents

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS (NURTURE) The term environment is used to refer to all the experiences, objects and events to which we are exposed throughout our entire lifetime. Environmental factors include; whether you have brothers and sisters, how you are brought up, your friendship groups, schooling, occupation, income level, whether you have a partner, your religion, ethnic origins, what you are exposed to in the media, whether you experience stressful events in life, serious illness and other personal and socio- cultural factors. The term environment is used to refer to all the experiences, objects and events to which we are exposed throughout our entire lifetime. Environmental factors include; whether you have brothers and sisters, how you are brought up, your friendship groups, schooling, occupation, income level, whether you have a partner, your religion, ethnic origins, what you are exposed to in the media, whether you experience stressful events in life, serious illness and other personal and socio-cultural factors Blank slate- all our experiences shape who we are

Nature vs Nurture Psychologist debated whether heredity or environment determined how we develop. Research evidence has consistently shown it is neither one or the other that is solely responsible for shaping development Both factors interact and contribute to how we develop. The focus now is on trying to understand how hereditary and environmental factors combine or interact in influencing our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Biological perspective believed that heredity primarily determined our psychological development for example: inherited their social skills, musical ability, personality & intelligence they believe we are locked in by our genes. Another group of psychologist believe that the environment in which an individual is raised and lives, which includes all their experiences, was responsible for what they would become. The assumption was that the mind of a newborn is totally empty and the development of all thoughts, feelings and behaviour could be explained in terms of a persons learning throughout their life. We all have a genetic blueprint but our environment & experiences effect how this unfolds, this will be looked at more closely when we look at twin studies Another example may be intelligence you can be born with a high IQ but without schooling & an environment which allows you to express this a persons intelligence will not further develop.

Individual development begins with the genetic blueprint & the environment interacts with our inherited potential to determine how the genetic plan unfolds All experiences individuals have throughout their lives has the potential to impact their psychological development in some way. Individual development begins with the genetic blueprint & the environment interacts with our inherited potential to determine how the genetic plan unfolds All experiences individuals have throughout their lives has the potential to impact their psychological development in some way. An example of this may be a person possessing the gene that contributes to the onset of depression (genetic predisposition for depression) may not actually experience depression until they experience a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one, whereas, a person without this gene may experience the same life event and less likely to develop depression.

ACTIVITY: 4.8. Construct a table with two columns, one with the heading “heredity” and the other with the heading “environment”. In each column, list several psychological characteristics which you think are more likely to be influenced by either heredity or environment. Discuss your list with other class members. What amendments did you make to your answers on the basis of your discussion?

Role of maturation Maturation: refers to the orderly and sequential developmental changes which occur in the nervous system and other bodily structures controlled by our genes. Principle of readiness states that unless the necessary bodily structures, be they muscles, bones or nerves, are sufficiently mature, then no amount of practice will produce the particular behaviour. It is only when an individual is maturational ready that development of these behaviours will occur. Genes play an important role in shaping the course of development through a process known as maturation. Maturation is a process which is automatic and internally processed. It refers to the orderly and sequential developmental changes which occur in the nervous system and other bodily structures controlled by our genes. We all go through predetermined maturational dependent stages i.e. in language development, the ability to talk starts with sounds that aren’t recognisable as meaningful words, followed by the ability to say individual words and then the ability to string a few words together Our brain must be maturationally ready or developed to complete this process. Physical development lays the foundation for the onset of psychological development this is the principle of readiness, that maturation creates readiness which determines the onset of particular behaviours and abilities. Maturation is also the process of learning to cope & react in a way which is emotionally appropriate.

Sensitive periods: is a period of time when an individual is more responsive (sensitive) to certain influences from their environment. Outside this period of time, the same environmental influences need to be stronger to produce the same positive or negative effects . These periods occur frequently during pre-natal development when the individual is going through rapidly occurring changes in growth and development. Sensitive period in the development of psychological characteristics such as emotional development i.e. attachment & cognitive development i.e. language. Throughout development there are sensitive periods these are times when environmental factors are more likely to have an impact on development. Sensitive periods: is a period of time when an individual is more responsive (sensitive) to certain influences from their environment. Outside this period of time, the same environmental influences need to be stronger to produce the same positive or negative effects . Examples: babies & toddlers brains are more flexible with learning and understanding things such as language Childrens cognitive and physical abilities develop rapidly.

ACTIVITY 4.11: 1. what is maturation? 2. Give examples of two different psychological abilities which are influenced by maturation in their development. Why is maturation necessary in your examples 3. explain with reference to the principle of readiness why some students may have difficulty understanding an algebra formula in year 7 but may understand the same formula in year 10. 4. explain what is meant by the phrase “sensitive period” with reference to an example. 1. Maturation: refers to the orderly and sequential developmental changes which occur in the nervous system and other bodily structures controlled by our genes. 2. Attachment & cognitive abilities 3.Not cognitively ready at year 7 4. Sensitive periods: is a period of time when an individual is more responsive (sensitive) to certain influences from their environment. Outside this period of time, the same environmental influences need to be stronger to produce the same positive or negative effects . For example: Emotional development (i.e. attachment), Cognitive development (i.e. language)