1. Before we start: A quick check…
Are you wearing your lanyards?

2. Check your understanding

3. Check your understanding…
The rules of expected behaviour are known as…
The term used to describe differences between human cultures is known as…
The study of different human cultures is known as…
A famous anthropologist who studied cultural diversity and gender was…
Margaret Mead studied different tribes in…
There are some groups in cultures who gave slightly different ideas and beliefs from most people around them. They are known as…

4. What is the nature/nurture debate? Compulsory core: Lesson 5/12
GCSE Sociology
What is the nature/nurture debate?
Compulsory core: Lesson 5/12
What am I going to learn? To understand the nature/nurture debate
Objectives of the lesson are:
To recognise that the nature/nurture debate is complex but that sociologists support nurture theories
To identify and explain the 2 theories of behaviour
* To recognise the term feral/wild child and its link to the
nature/nurture debate

5. Sex and gender? Sociologists distinguish between sex and gender
The term sex refers to biological difference between men and women. In relation to their bodies and reproduction
Gender is not biological but refers to a socially constructed set of behaviour patterns ascribed at birth.

6. Group activity and discussion
Nature refers to... Nurture refers to...

7. Nature: the idea that we act as we do because we are born that way Nurture: the idea that we act as we do because we are taught how to behave

8. Do we act as we do because we are born to do so (nature) or because we are affected by other people? (nurture) I’m going to find out YOUR opinion… Discuss in your groups

9. I want you to decide whether you think this is nature or nurture for the following…

10. Phoebe loves marmite on toast, just like her dad.
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

11. 2. Ernest lived to the age of 101
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

12. 3. Patrick loses his temper easily and often gets into fights.
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

13. 4. John has just come out as being gay.
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

14. general knowledge and is a quiz show champion.
5. Beth has an impressive
general knowledge and is a quiz
show champion.
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

15. 6. Olivia loves the colour pink
Nature: the idea that we act as we do
because we are born that way
Nurture: the idea that we act as we do
because we are taught how to behave

16. A complex debate…
There is a debate (discussion) in sociology and psychology. The question is whether people are born to behave as they do (nature theory) because it comes naturally, or whether they learn to act as they do (nurture theory).
Probably there WILL NEVER BE AN ANSWER to the question but it is important to remember the points made on both sides.
However, you do need to know that sociologists support nurture theories.

17. Video - discussion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnaXW9ZgZc

18. Nature theories of behaviour Nurture theories of behaviour
Task 1: Explain the 2 theories of behaviour and complete the table using pg. 18 of the text book.

19. Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933
Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in During his period of control, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland. Many people died in the resulting World War. In addition, Hitler oversaw the mass killings of Jewish people, disabled people, gay people and Gypsies from all over Europe.
Group task:
Was Hitler born to be cruel or did something about they way he was brought up make him cruel? If Hitler had not been born, could the Second World War still have happened? Discuss…

20. Exam Question
Explain the difference between nature and nurture theories of human behaviour (5) Swap books with another pupil, read their answer...what have they missed out?

21. 1. Explain why sociologists reject nature theories of behaviour.
There is evidence to support nature and nurture theories of human behaviour. However, sociologists say that the evidence supports nurture theories more than nature theories. They use 3 types of evidence:
Historical evidence shows that people’s behaviour changes over time. This wouldn’t be true if it came naturally to them.
Anthropological evidence shows that people’s behaviour varies from culture to culture. Which culture is most ‘natural’ to humans?
Children who have not been brought up correctly behave in a way that is very different to most humans. Children who have been brought up without human contact are known as unsocialised children. This would not happen if we just acted on instinct – something that animals and people do without learning or being taught to do it. There are cases of children being brought up by animals. These are feral children.

22. In workbooks Check your understanding (A-D)
A) What is a debate?
B) what is nature theory
C) Give one example of a nature explanation for male violence
D) Give one example of a nurture explanation for male violence
E) What historical evidence is there for nurture theory
What anthropological evidence is there for nurture theory

23. Reflection
Produce five key points which summarise today’s learning

25. Next weeks lesson… Feral Child
Please watch and make notes on the following programme for homework and come prepared to discuss next Monday.
Feral child

26. S&C Extension
Do you agree that women are more likely to want to look after children because that is what their bodies are programmed to do? Why?
Do you think you inherit or learn your personality type from your parents? Why?

27. Flipped learning… Feral Child
Please watch and make notes on the following programme for homework and come prepared to discuss next thursday.
Feral child

28. Exam Practice This is to be completed in silence.
Read through the text you have been given and then answer the questions in your book.
Look at how much each question is worth. Use this to decide how much to write.
S&C

29. Plenary Look at your work and think what you could do to improve it.
Look at your neighbour’s work, make one suggestion for improvement.
Write down your personal target for improvement to your work.

30. Copyright Adam Godwin (2017)
See you next time!