Psych Topic 5--Nature vs. Nurture

Epigenetics:

studies molecular mechanisms by which environments trigger genetic expression

Behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Environment: every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us Chromosomes: threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes Genes: the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

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What are the three main criticisms of the evolutionary explanation of human sexuality?

1) It starts with an effect and works backward to propose an explanation. 2) Unethical and immoral men could use such explanation to rationalize their behavior toward women. 3) This explanation may overlook the effects of cultural expectations and socialization.

our genetic predispositions, or genetically influenced traits, explain what two human traits?

1) shared human nature and 2) human diversity

Match the following terms to the correct explanation: epigenetics, molecular genetics, behavior genetics-- (study of the structure and function of specific genes. )(study of the relative effects of our genes and our environment on our behavior )(study of environmental factors that affect how our genes are expressed.)

1. Epigenetics: study of environmental factors that affect how our genes are expressed. 2. Molecular genetics: study of the structure and function of specific genes. 3. Behavior genetics: study of the relative effects of our genes and our environment on our behavior

When the mother's egg and the father's sperm unite, each contributes how many chromosomes?

23

What is the selection effect, and how might it affect a teen's decision to join sports teams at school?

Adolescents tend to select out similar others and sort themselves into like-minded groups. This could lead to a teen who is athletic finding other athletic teens and joining school teams together.

How do evolutionary psychologists explain gender differences in sexuality?

Evolutionary psychologists theorize that women have inherited their ancestors' 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.

Put the following cell structures in order from smallest to largest: nucleus, gene, chromosome.

Gene, chromosome, nucleus

Would the heritability of aggressiveness be greater in Belyaev and Trut's foxes, or in a wild population of foxes?

Heritability of aggressiveness would be greater in the wild population, with its greater genetic variation in aggressiveness.

How do individualist and collectivist cultures differ?

Individualists give priority to personal goals over group goals and tend to define their identity in terms of their own personal attributes. Collectivists give priority to group goals over individual goals and tend to define their identity in terms of group identification Individualists want to be belong, but need to do individual duty in a group, more importantly

How are belyaev and Trut's breeding practices similar to, and how do they differ from, the way natural selection normally occur?

Over multiple generations, Belyaev and Trut have been selecting foxes that exhibit the desired trait of tameness and breeding them to produce tame foxes. This is similar to the process of natural selection, except these breeders were seeking tameness, and natural selection, which also includes mutation, normally favors traits that lead to reproductive success.

How do researchers use twin and adoption studies to learn about psychological principles?

Researchers compare the traits and behaviors of identical twins (same genes) and fraternal twins (sharing half their genes—similar to any sibling). They also compare adopted children with their adoptive and biological parents. Some studies compare twins raised together or separately. These studies help us determine how much variation among individuals is due to genetic makeup and how much to environmental factors.

Temperament:

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Mutation:

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

Norm:

an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe "proper" behavior.

individualism:

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Collectivism:

giving priority to the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly

Gender:

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

Example of epigenetic mark:

organic methyl moleucule attached to a part of a DNA strant, which instructs the cell to ignore any gene present in that DNA stretch, thereby preventing the DNA from producing the proteins coded by that gene

heritability:

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Genome:

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

interaction:

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).

Natural selection:

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Epigenetics:

the study of influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

Evolutionary psychology:

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Identical twins:

twins who develop from a single (monozygotic) fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Fraternal twins:

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

Natural selection:

• Organisms' varied offspring compete for survival • Certain biological and behavioral variations increase their reproductive and survival chances in their environment • Offspring that survive are more likely to pass their genes to ensuing generations • Thus, over time, population characteristics may change