Psychology Department
Nature-Nurture Essay Plan
Title: Critically consider different views regarding the relationship between
nature and nurture.
This Paper 5 essay is asking you to be SYNOPTIC – in other words to make
links between the different areas of the course you have studied in
answering the question. You will have 40 minutes in the exam and should be
aiming for 3-4 sides of A4.
Remember AO1 is worth 10 and A02 is worth 15 marks. Focus on
balance.
Use the following plan, which will help you structure your answer and
highlight the kind of material required. Each number should be a new
paragraph or section.
1.
Define the nature-nurture debate, focusing on the interaction between the
two.
2.
Explain what we mean by genotype and phenotype and how it is difficult to
Separate them.
3.
a)
3.
Describe where the perspectives we have studied
(biological/evolutionary, psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive) stand
on the relative importance of nature and nurture. Highlight the fact
that for different types of behaviour the relative influence of
nature and nurture will be different.
b)
Choose 3 examples of behaviour we have studied from across the
course and offer different explanations (biological/evolutionary,
psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive.)
c)
For each example highlight the relative importance of nature and
nurture
4
Highlight the problems connected with researching nature-nurture.
5
Conclusion: mention diathesis-stress model and focus on interaction.