AP Psychology Unit 3 Module 14~15

evolutionary psychology

"what makes us so much alike?" the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection as genetic variations increasing the odds of reproducing and surviving are most likely to be passed on to future generations

heritable individual differences e.g. height, intelligence

do not necessarily imply heritable group differences. - Genes mostly explain why some people are taller than others, but not why people are taller today than they were a century ago.

psychological influences on individual development

gene-environment interaction; neurological effect of early experiences; responses evoked by our own temperament, gender, etc.; beliefs, feelings, and expectations.

biopsychosocial approach (perspective) to individual development

individual development = biological influences : human genome, individual variations, prenatal environment, sex-related genes, hormones, and physiology +psychological influences : gene-environment interactions, effect of early experiences on neural networks, responses evoked by our own characteristics, gender, personality, personal beliefs, feelings, and expectations +socio-cultural influences : parental and peer influences, cultural traditions and values, and cultural gender norms

adaptation

most important trait humans have in order to respond to a new environment and survice.

Myers says forget nature vs nurture instead think

nature via nurture

social-cultural influences on individual development

parental influences; peer influences; cultural individualism or collectivism; cultural gender norms

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes. 46 chromosomes in each cell 23 received (pairs) from each parent - many genes together make up a chromosome.

identical twins (monozygotic)

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms. - not same number of copies of genes - different placenta 태반 "genes matter. -> experience"

fraternal twins (dizygotic)

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

natural selection

- Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. - It's the process through which adaptive traits are Passed on to ongoing generations because these traits help animals survive and reproduce.

interaction

- Genes can influence traits which affect responses, and -Environment can affect gene activity

men vs. women's attitude to recreational sex

- Men tend to have a recreational view of sexual activity; women tend to have a relational view - tendencies to be more cautious, sexually, because of the challenges associated with incubating and nurturing offspring. Men have inherited an inclination to be more casual about sex, because their act of fathering requires a smaller investment.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

- a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

heritability

- describes the extent to which VARIATION AMONG MEMBERS of a group can be attributed to genes. - Gene-Environment Interaction

genetic predispositions

- genetics creates the potential for something to happen. - the environment may or may not trigger the predisposition.

genome

- the set of complete instructions for making an organism. - Contains all the genes. Thus the human genome makes us human (3 billion)

evidence against the idea that "biology is destiny"

Cognitive therapy can help people change unwanted personality traits

gender roles in U.S. over time

They are converging. Genes and hormones predispose males to be more physically aggressive than females, but culture has shown brute strength to be less important to power and status.

Dmitry Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut

They selectively mate foxes for friendly traits to produce domesticated wild foxes. Revealing Fact from the study is that certain traits can be selected.

biological influences on individual development

shared human genome; individual genetic variations; prenatal environment; sex-related genes, hormones, and physiology

men vs. women's attitude to mate selection

-Women are more likely to pair wisely, since they spend much time nursing a child; they prefer stick-around dads over cads.; Look for men who seem mature, dominant, bold and affluent for long-term mating and investment. -Men Look for youthful, healthy, fertile appearing women, to pass their genes into the future. *Nature selects behaviors that increase the likelihood of sending one's genes into the future.

evolutionary psychologists and bitter food

-avoiding such foods has survival value since they are often the foods most toxic to a developing baby. -those who ate nourishing foods rather than poisonous foods survived to contribute their genes to future generations. (Natural Selection)

mutation

-random errors in gene replication. -leads to a change in individual genetic code Reason for genetic diversity

personality traits influenced by genes and home environment

-the stability of personality suggests a genetic predisposition -shared family environments have little effect on personality

criticisms of evolutionary psychology

1. Works backward to propose an explanation (so any behavior can be explained) 2. do not recognize social and cultural influences 3. absolve people from taking responsibility for their sexual behavior

genes

20000-25000 in a human the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein. - active or inactive : active : creating protein molecules(building blocks)

amount of chromosomes

46......making 23 pairs

evidence against the idea that "our lives are determined by our experiences"

Babies are born with personalities that are relatively stable throughout their lives.

men vs. women's attitude towards children

Females have the advantage of knowing that any child they bear is theirs. The male must determine that the female has really borne his child. Maternal grandparents are assured of 25% genetic carryover and they are happier than Paternal grandparents.

self-regulation in genes

Genes respond to Environmental Conditions, REACTING to different environmental contexts in different ways. Analogy: Genetic predisposition makes the gun, Environment determines whether you pull the trigger.

describe genes

If chromosomes are the "chapters" of heredity, the "words" that make each of us distinctive human being are called genes. Most of our traits are influenced by many of these units of heredity. Genes are self-regulating; rather than acting as blueprints that always lead to the same result, they react to the environmental context.

recent relationship between nature and nurture

Nature and Nurture JOINTLY form us. -We are the products of natural selection and heredity as well as cultural, family, peer and media influences. - we are also a system that is open.(creators as well as creatures of our world). - We respond to the world's response to us. (we affiliate with others, cope with challenges, build our own personal strengths and values).

adopted children and adoptive parent influence

Studies tend to show that the personalities of adopted children do not closely resemble those of their adoptive parents. However, adoption studies show that parenting does matter. For example, many adopted children score higher than their biological parents on intelligence tests

interaction of nature and nurture

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 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

How are twin pairs usually treated?

Twin pairs reported being treated alike. However, their similarities could not be attributed to how they were treated.

What is the difference between an identical and fraternal twin?

Twins who developed from a single egg are genetically identical. Twins who developed from different fertilized eggs are no more genetically alike than siblings and are called fraternal twins. In terms of the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism, identical twins are more alike than are fraternal twins.

environment

every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

genetically predisposed traits

genetically influenced traits; intelligence, happiness, agressiveness, vertebrae, height, size of your face, etc.

What causes human differences?

result from both genetic and environmental influences

behavior geneticists

seek to quantify genetic and environmental influences on our traits

behavior genetics

study of the effects of genes and environmental influences on our behavior. -combines biology and behaviorism

evolutionary psychologists and reproductive success

success enhancing genes continue to be selected, behavioral tendencies and thinking and learning capacities emerge that prepare them to survive, reproduce, and send their genes into the future.

molecular genetics

the sub-field of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes specifically for influencing behavioir. - no single "obesity gene"