Lecture 5 E

Question 1

Define nature

Answer 1

All the hereditary factors that influence a characteristic

Question 2

Define nurture

Answer 2

All the non-hereditary factors (physical environment, pre-natal environment, experience, socio-cultural interactions) that impact that characteristic

Question 3

Define genotype

Answer 3

The entire set of genetic material an individual inherited from its parents

Question 4

Define phenotype

Answer 4

The observable or measurable characteristics of an individual influenced by the genotype (morphologic, physiologic, and behavioural traits)

Question 5

Define environment

Answer 5

Every aspect surrounding an individual and influencing it’s phenotype (diet, family life, physical-chemical interactions, experience)

Question 6

What would nature and nurture say about high blood pressure and obesity?

Answer 6

Nature advocates: hereditary factors have a high impact on obesity which influences blood pressure.

Nurture advocates: poor eating habits cause obesity and the limited ability to regulate personal habits leads to high blood pressure.

Question 7

What would would nature and nurture say about personality?

Answer 7

Nature advocates: a natural inclination toward the behavioural patterns of the mother

Nurture advocates: “Learned” personality because of the growing up under the direct presence of the mother

Question 8

If Nature > Nurture

Answer 8

• social behaviour is rooted in genetics
• related individuals display the same behaviour and similar populations display similar social structures regardless of the environments they live in

Question 9

If nurture > nature

Answer 9

• social behaviour is (mostly) shaped by ecological factors

- Related individuals and populations living in different environments display different social structures

Question 10

Give an example of Nature > Nurture

Answer 10

Primates tend to have the same social structure as their close relatives, regardless of how and where they live

Question 11

What are gene-derived proteins?

Answer 11

They direct the formation of neural circuits in the brain and these circuits serve as the true foundations of behaviour

Question 12

What is Nature x Nurture ?

Answer 12

A continuous dialog between genes and environment

A interaction- epigenetic

Genes have an influence on the environments we experience

(Nature vs nurture is misleading)

Question 13

Genes, proteins, neural circuits and behaviour

Answer 13

Genes generate proteins, NOT behaviours

Not only what a genes does but how it is expressed influences behaviour