Psychology · Year 13

Active learning ideas

The Nature-Nurture Debate

The Nature-Nurture debate examines the extent to which our traits and behaviours are the result of heredity (nature) or environmental influences (nurture). In Year 13, the focus shifts from a simple 'either/or' argument to the interactionist approach. This includes studying the diathesis-stress model and the emerging field of epigenetics, which shows how environmental factors can actually switch genes on or off.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA A-level Psychology 7182 - 4.3.1.4
• AQA A-level Psychology 7182 - 4.2.1

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Structured Academic Controversy
• 40 min · Small Groups

Collaborative Problem Solving: The Diathesis-Stress Model

Provide students with case studies of individuals with a genetic predisposition for a condition like schizophrenia. Groups must identify specific environmental 'stressors' that might trigger the condition and explain the interaction using a visual model.

How do genetics and environment interact to shape behaviour?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Epigenetics Puzzle

Students watch a short clip on the Dutch Hunger Winter or similar epigenetic studies. They work individually to define 'epigenetics,' pair up to explain it to each other using a metaphor, and share their metaphors with the class.

What is the diathesis-stress model?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Twin Study Data

Display concordance rates for various traits (IQ, schizophrenia, eye colour) from famous twin studies. Students move around the room to determine which traits lean more toward nature or nurture and identify the 'missing percentage' that suggests interactionism.

How can epigenetics explain transgenerational behavioural changes?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Nature and nurture are two separate, competing forces.

  In reality, they are inextricably linked. For example, a child's genetic temperament (nature) influences how their parents treat them (nurture). Active modelling of these feedback loops helps students move past the 'versus' mentality to an interactionist one.

• High concordance rates in twin studies prove a trait is 100% genetic.

  Even identical twins rarely have 100% concordance for complex behaviours, and they often share the same environment. Peer analysis of data helps students spot that environment is almost always a factor, even in biological studies.

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Methods used in this brief

• Structured Academic Controversy
• Think-Pair-Share
• Gallery Walk