Lecture 16 - Genes and the Psychosocial Environment

Question 1

What is psychological essentialism?

Answer 1

Assumption that every individual has an innate ‘essence’ that is stable, causal, unchangeable and natural. Not known what this actually is, but there’s an ‘essence’ that allows cats to have fur, whiskers, etc.

Question 2

What is genetic essentialism?

Answer 2

Similar to psychological essentialism, but the ‘essence’ is genes. When people are primed with genes making up the person, they make cognitive biases.

Question 3

What is the immutability and determinism bias?

Answer 3

Assumption that underlying genes cannot be altered and will always manifest if present.

Question 4

What is the specific etiology bias?

Answer 4

Every gene has a specific use and cause. If the behaviour is present, then so is the gene.

Question 5

What is the homogeneity and discreteness bias?

Answer 5

There are differences and similarities between groups based on genes (similarities moreso for ingroup).

Question 6

What is the naturalness bias?

Answer 6

That behaviour is genetic, therefore it is natural and natural processes are ‘good.’