Why Do Psychologists Study Children Who Have Been Adopted?

The field of psychology relies heavily on research studies. Only through presenting a hypothesis and pursuing answers are psychologists able to understand human behavior and mental processes. Adoption studies have always been a popular experimental method because they are at the heart of the nature-nurture debate, and while they are more difficult to establish, the results are long-lasting.

What Is the Nature-Nurture Debate?

• In psychology, nature is categorized by biology, while nurture is categorized by environment. Nature is intrinsic and often uncontrollable, while nurture is external and easily changed.

Why Adoption?

• In a sense, adoption is a point of impact between nature and nurture. Here, a child, the product of two sets of genes, is raised in an environment distinct from those sets of genes.

What Are Adoption Studies?

• Adoption studies allow psychologists to explore whether certain mental or behavioral phenomenon are better attributed to nature or nurture. If a child is biologically predisposed to certain traits, but does not embody those traits in his new environment, psychologists can conclude that those traits are affected by the environment, or nurturing.

What Types of Hypotheses Can Be Made?

• From homosexuality to alcoholism, many behaviors and disorders have been delegated either to the realm of nature or the realm of nurture, although more often than not they are a combination of both.

Are Adoption Studies the Best Studies?

• Twin studies, especially twin adoption studies, take many more variables out of the equation. Using identical twins, psychologists can be guaranteed that their test subjects are genetic equals, and that any differences in behavior are dependent on environment alone.