Lecture 6 - Genetics, Evolutionary, Psychology, and Behavior

Question 1

what are the relative contributions of nature and nurture?

Answer 1

genes and behavior

Question 2

genes (nature)

Answer 2

basic units of heredity

segments of DNA molecules

Question 3

environment (nurture)

Answer 3

external influences

Question 4

nature vs. nurture debate

Answer 4

are human capabilities inborn or acquired through experience?

Question 5

nature view

Answer 5

humans enter the world with an inborn store of knowledge

Question 6

nurture view

Answer 6

knowledge is acquired through experiences and interactions with the world

Question 7

how does the environment influence expression of genes?

Answer 7

range of reaction - genetic makeup establishes range of possible developmental outcomes

environment determines how person actually develops

Question 8

genotype-environment interaction

Answer 8

different characteristics result from different combinations of genes and environment

Question 9

how can we study genetic contributions?

Answer 9

• behavioral genetics
• heritability
• family studies
• adoption studies
• twin studies
• adoption twin studies

Question 10

behavioral genetics

Answer 10

study of genetic bases of individual differences in behavior and personality

Question 11

heritability

Answer 11

statistical estimate of contribution of heredity to individual differences

relies on correlational research methods (e.g. twin studies)

Question 12

family studies

Answer 12

measure degree to which biological relatives share certain traits

Question 13

adoption studies

Answer 13

compare adopted children to adoptive families and biological families

Question 14

twin studies

Answer 14

compare pair of monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twins

Question 15

monozygotic twins

Answer 15

share 100% genes

Question 16

dizygotic twins

Answer 16

share 50% genes on average

Question 17

concordance rate

Answer 17

ranges from 0.0 to 1.0

Question 18

adoption twin studies

Answer 18

compare monozygotic twins separated in infancy and monozygotic twins reared apart

Question 19

what are the results of genetic studies of behavior?

Answer 19

intellectual characteristics

• intelligence
• spatial and verbal
• memory
• creativity
• temperament and personality
• psychopathology

Question 20

what is evolutionary psychology?

Answer 20

theory suggesting that psychological mechanisms in the past increased our ancestors’ chances of surviving and reproducing

Question 21

natural selection

Answer 21

behaviors and characteristics persist that contributed to survival and reproduction

Question 22

what are some traits that become more common?

Answer 22

• sex differences in aggression

- unequal parental investment - greater male reproductive competition