A-LevelPsychologyIssues and debates9990/12 · Feb/Mar 2021 · Q812 Marks

Outline what is meant by the nature–nurture debate, using any examples. Do not refer to the study by Schachter and Singer (two factors in emotion) in your answer.

(a)Outline what is meant by the nature–nurture debate, using any examples. Do not refer to the study by Schachter and Singer (two factors in emotion) in your answer.[4]
(b)Explain how one result from the study by Schachter and Singer (two factors in emotion) supports the nature side of the nature–nurture debate and how one result supports the nurture side of the nature–nurture debate.[8]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[4] (a) 1 mark = defining nature + 1 mark example (non-Schachter & Singer)
(a) 1 mark = defining nurture + 1 mark example (non-Schachter & Singer)
(a) Nature means a behaviour that we are born with/genetic/hard-wired (1 mark). For example, a person may be born with genetics that cause them to develop schizophrenia (1 mark)
(a) Nurture means a behaviour that has been learned by an organism after birth (1 mark); For example, in the Pepperberg study, Alex the parrot learned the concept of Same/Different (1 mark);
(a) There are other creditworthy responses.
[8] (b) e.g. Nature 4 marks
(b) In all of the epinephrine conditions, the pulse rate increased for all participants. This is a biological reaction as it is a hormone being released into the blood stream/humans are 'hard-wired' to react to epinephrine in this way.
[8] (b) e.g. Nurture 4 marks
(b) In the euphoria condition, the misinformed group produced the highest activity index score compared to all other groups. This is because the participants may have been choosing environmental/behavioural cues to explain their feelings so acted in this way to as a result of external forces.
(b) Level 4 (4 marks): The result presented has a meaningful comparison and the candidate clearly explains why it supports/does not support the named concept.
(b) Level 3 (3 marks): The result presented has a meaningful comparison and there is a brief attempt at explaining why it supports/does not support the named concept OR The result presented has no meaningful comparison but the candidate clearly explains why it supports/does not support the named concept.
(b) Level 2 (2 marks): The result presented has a meaningful comparison but there is no attempt at explanation; OR The result presented is not clear but there is an implicit attempt at explaining why it supports/does not support the named concept.
(b) Level 1 (1 mark): The result presented has no meaningful comparison or there is a basic attempt at explaining.
(b) Level 0 (0 marks): No creditworthy answer.