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To what extent does nurture influence cognitive and biological psychology? - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 13 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 13
To what extent does nurture influence cognitive and biological psychology?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:To what extent does nurture influence cognitive and biological psychology? - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 13 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Nurture and Its Definition
Answer
Nurture refers to the environment, interactions, and experiences that a person has over the duration of their lifetime. This encompasses everything from the immediate environment to broader societal influences. In contrast, nature refers to the internal, innate aspects of a person that they are born with, such as their physiological attributes.
Step 2
Influences of Nurture on Brain Functioning
Answer
Brain functioning can be affected by nurture in various ways, such as through drug-taking behavior used to achieve reward pathway excitation. Cultural experiences can also impact cognitive processes by shaping memory through the construction of individual schemas.
Step 3
Impact of Environmental Factors
Answer
The environment plays a crucial role in influencing brain functions. For instance, exposure to toxins during pregnancy can lead to significant brain damage in the developing fetus. Such early environmental influences can have lasting effects on cognitive abilities.
Step 4
Challenges in Isolating Nurture
Answer
Nurture is difficult to isolate when studying memory or brain functioning, as the influence of environmental factors is seldom completely measurable. For example, Raine et al. (1997) highlighted differences in the brains of murderers, suggesting that violent behavior might be partially attributed to brain function influenced by nurture.
Step 5
Evidence from Literature
Answer
Studies by Olds and Milner (1954) suggested that the reward system can be influenced by experiences, emphasizing the role of nurture in shaping behavior and memory. Furthermore, Bartlett's (1932) research on memory reconstruction illustrates how memory can vary based on personal experience, reaffirming the significance of nurturing environments.
Step 6
Interconnectedness of Cognitive and Biological Psychology
Answer
Research by Dasha-Shan Wu et al. (2011) supports the notion that prenatal experiences can interfere with cognitive functions, demonstrating the intersection of both biological and cognitive psychology. This highlights that both nature and nurture are essential in understanding the complexities of human behavior.