WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology sample

The ‘nature versus nurture’ debate The debate about nature versus nurture among sociologists, and other commentators, is to do with whether we act the way we do because we are born to do so (nature) or whether we act the way we do because we have been taught to do so by the agents of socialisation (nurture). The nature argument Knowledge Supporters of the nature side argue that our behaviour is mostly determined by our genetic make-up and by what we inherit biologically from our parents. Just as children inherit characteristics from their parents such as eye colour and hair colour, so some social behaviour and characteristics, such as musical ability and good temper, these sociologists would argue, is inherited. Babies of African-Caribbean descent, for example, are born with brown eyes and will retain brown eyes regardless of the environment they are brought up in because eye colour and the strength of colour pigment are coded in their genes. The argument continues that many personality and other traits, such as intelligence, maternal instinct and sexual orientation, are coded in the genes. According to this view, differences in behaviour are therefore due to natural differences at birth, not the way individuals have been brought up. Supporters of the nature argument would argue that some human traits, such as intelligence, are largely inherited. The arguments continues therefore that clever adults are likely to have clever children. They point to evidence from studies of identical twins who have been brought up apart but still share many similarities, such as intelligence levels. Similarly, they would argue that women are generally more caring and the ‘natural’ child minders because maternal instincts are coded in their genes so that the young child is cared for and the human race continues. The nurture argument Comparison However, many sociologists tend to argue that nurture is more significant and that much human behaviour is learned. Individuals are socialised into the culture of their family and their society and taught how to live in society by the agents of socialisation, including their family, peer group and school or workplace. Knowledge The nurture view argues that how we are brought up and socialised has the most significant influence on how we behave. Example They argue that intelligence and maternal instincts are a result of ‘nurture’ not ‘nature’. Thus, clever adults will provide a stimulating environment for their children to learn, so their children have a high chance of turning out to be clever. Key concepts and processes of cultural transmission Chapter 1 WHAT AM I GOING TO LEARN? To explore the debate around ‘nature versus nature’: whether human behaviour is learned or the result of natural differences. Starter ... Discuss with a learning partner what human behaviours might be learned and what might be a result of genetics or inheritance. Consider the cases of talent and maternal instincts. Do toys like this teach girls to be caring? 14