1. The Nature Nurture Debate

2. In your opinion, is behaviour genetic or environmental ? Genetic Environment

3. Learning Objectives  To be able to explain the key arguments for why nature may determine someone’s behaviour.  To be able to explain the key arguments for why nurture may determine someone’s behaviour.  To evaluate the arguments in favour of nature affecting someone’s behaviour.  To evaluate the arguments in favour of nurture affecting someone’s behaviour.

4. Nature or Nurture Nature: due to inherited characteristics and our genes Nurture: due to environmental influences and learning On your whiteboards, decide whether you think nature or nurture for the following scenarios.

5. Scenarios 1) Phoebe loves Marmite on toast, just like her dad. 2) Ernest lived to the age of 101 3) Patrick loses his temper easily and often gets into fights. 4) John has just come out as being gay. 5) Beth has an impressive general knowledge and is a quiz show champion.

6. Nature  Individually complete the following: List all of the physical features, behavioural traits and even illnesses you believe you have inherited from your parents or grandparents.

7. Is being a criminal in your genes?

8. In your opinion, is Criminal behaviour genetic or environmental ? Genetic Environment

9. Lombroso  Lombroso in 1876 argued that the criminal is a separate species. Lombroso argued that people were born criminal and you could tell a criminal by the way they looked! He argued that the physical shape of the head and face determined the "born criminal".

11. Professor James Fallon  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0HMhP4t3a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0HMhP4t3a s Thoughts on this? Any other reasons why people may be criminals?

12. Sheldon  William Sheldon believed that a person’s body type (which he argued was genetic) had a major part to play in a person’s personality. 1. endomorph (fat and soft) tend to be sociable and relaxed. 2. ectomorph (thin and fragile) are introverted and restrained 3. mesomorph (muscular and hard) tend to be aggressive and adventurous.

14. The Jim Twins  Watch the case study on the Jim Twins and note down the main areas of similarity.  Which side of the nature/nurture debate does this support? And why?

15. What do you think? 1) Do you think your genes are mostly responsible for your behaviour, or has your upbringing played a more significant role? How much do your friends and peer pressure influence your personality? 2) Do you sometimes think that you “can’t help” the way you respond to certain situations? For example, do you find yourself always wanting to be on time events? Is this behaviour like that of one of your parents? Do you see “nature” winning out in this example? Can you think of similar examples? 3) Do your friends influence your behaviour? If so, how? Try to be as specific as you can. 4) Are you influenced by what you see and hear in the media? Describe the impact this has on you. 5) Are you influenced by a special adult in your life, such as a relative, a teacher or a group leader? How has this person helped shape your personality?

16. Feral Children  Feral Child Feral Child  Which side of the nature nurture debate do they support and why?

17. Why is the nature nurture debate important for sociologists?  Write a short paragraph answering this question.