Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed) Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture Of Behavior James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Worth Publishers.

Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY

(7th Ed)

Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture

Of Behavior

James A. McCubbin, PhDClemson University

Worth Publishers

Fact vs. Falsehood 1. If after a world wide catastrophe only Icelanders or Kenyans survived, the

human species would suffer a huge reduction in its genetic diversity. 2. The majority of the American public now believes that Darwin’s evolutionary

theory is supported by evidence. 3. In many places around the world, females are more likely than males to

initiate sexual activity. 4. People’s differing divorce risks are about 50% attributable to genetic factors. 5. Adoptees’ traits bear more similarities to their adoptive parents than to their

biological parents. 6. The most emotionally intense preschoolers tend to be relatively intense

adults. 7. Two children in the same family are on average as different from one

another as are pairs of children selected randomly from the population. 8. A child who hears English spoken with one accent at home and another in

the neighborhood and at school invariable adopts the accent of his or her peers, not the parents.

9. Compared with Westerners, people in Japanese cultures exhibit greater concern for social harmony and loyalty.

10. Seven weeks after conception, males and female remain anatomically indistinguishable.

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Chromosomes threadlike structures made of DNA that

contain genes DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes

has two strands-forming a “double helix”--held together by bonds between pairs of nucleotides

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Genes units of heredity that make up the

chromosomes a segment of DNA capable of

synthesizing a protein Genome

the complete instructions for making an organism

all the genetic material in its chromosomes

Genes: Their Location and Composition

Nucleus Chromosome Gene

Cell DNA

Evolutionary Psychology

Natural Selection the principle that, among inherited trait

variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will be passed on to succeeding generations

Mutations random errors in gene replication that

lead to a change; the source of all genetic diversity

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology the study of the evolution of

behavior and the mind, using the principles of natural selection

Gender in psychology, the characteristics,

whether biologically or socially influenced, by which people define male and female (sex = anatomy)

Survey

Complete and discuss the Mate Charateristics survey

Evolutionary Psychology Men preferred attractive physical features

suggesting youth and health Women preferred resources and social

status

Behavior Genetics

Behavior Genetics (Nature) study of the relative power and

limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Environment (Nurture) every nongenetic influence, from

prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

Behavior Genetics

Identical Twins develop from a single

fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Fraternal Twins develop from separate

eggs genetically no closer

than brothers and sisters, but they share the fetal environment

Identicaltwins

Fraternaltwins

Samesex only

Same oropposite sex

Behavior Genetics

Temperament a person’s characteristic emotional

reactivity and intensity Heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

50% of personality

Behavior Genetics

Interaction the dependence of the effect of one

factor (such as environment) on another factor (such as heredity)

Molecular Genetics the subfield of biology that studies

the molecular structure and function of genes

Environmental Influence

Two placental arrangements in identical twins

Environmental Influence

Experience affects brain development

Impoverishedenvironment

Rat braincell

Rat braincell

Enrichedenvironment

Environmental Influence

Culture the enduring behaviors, ideas,

attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Individualistic and collectivism Norm

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior

Environmental Influence

Personal Space the buffer zone we like to

maintain around our bodies Memes

self-replicating ideas, fashions, and innovations passed from person to person

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

X Chromosome the sex chromosome found in both men

and women females have two; males have one an X chromosome from each parent

produces a female child Y Chromosome

the sex chromosome found only in men when paired with an X chromosome from

the mother, it produces a male child

Survey

Take and discuss the Sexual Attitudes Survey

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Testosterone the most important of the male sex hormones both males and females have it additional testosterone in males stimulates

growth of male sex organs in the fetus development of male sex characteristics during

puberty

Role a set of expectations (norms) about a social position defining how those in the position ought to behave

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Gender Role a set of expected behaviors for males

and females Gender Identity

one’s sense of being male or female Gender-typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Gender and Culture

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Social Learning Theory theory that we learn social behavior by

observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

Gender Schema Theory theory that children learn from their

cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Two theories of gender typing

Bottom Line

Nature vs. Nurture = 50% each

Do you think like an evolutionary psychologist?

Complete and discuss the Evolutionary psych questions

Review the Fact or Falsehood