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Nature and Nurture Nature and Nurture in Psychologyin Psychology
Module 3, Chapter 1Module 3, Chapter 1
Important questions to askImportant questions to ask
What makes you, you?What makes you, you?
How do our families, our friends, and our How do our families, our friends, and our culture in which we live affect us?culture in which we live affect us? This is what behavior genetics focuses on.This is what behavior genetics focuses on. Socio-cultural perspective anyone?Socio-cultural perspective anyone?
If you were cloned at birth, would your clone If you were cloned at birth, would your clone be exactly like you?be exactly like you?
Behavior GeneticsBehavior Genetics
Studies the relative effects of genes and Studies the relative effects of genes and environmental influences on behavior.environmental influences on behavior.
Genes – biochemical units of heredity that Genes – biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes; a segment of DNA.make up chromosomes; a segment of DNA. Set up our physical beings and influence behavior.Set up our physical beings and influence behavior.
Environment – every non-genetic influence, Environment – every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.things around us. Culture you are raised in, socio-economic status, Culture you are raised in, socio-economic status,
family.family.
Nature and NurtureNature and Nurture
NatureNature side entails the genetic code passed side entails the genetic code passed from parent to child.from parent to child. BiologyBiology
NurtureNurture side involves all environmental side involves all environmental influences from prenatal development on.influences from prenatal development on. EnvironmentEnvironment
Which parts of human behavior can we Which parts of human behavior can we attribute to nature and which can be attributed attribute to nature and which can be attributed to nurture?to nurture?
Genetics in BriefGenetics in Brief
We all have our own genetic code.We all have our own genetic code. Biological blueprint found in every cell nucleus Biological blueprint found in every cell nucleus
that contains master code for your entire body.that contains master code for your entire body. Chromosomes – threadlike structures made of Chromosomes – threadlike structures made of
DNA molecules that contain the genes.DNA molecules that contain the genes. 46 in each cell, 23 from each parent.46 in each cell, 23 from each parent.
DNA – complex molecule containing the DNA – complex molecule containing the genetic info that makes up the chromosomes.genetic info that makes up the chromosomes.
GenomeGenome NucleotidesNucleotides
The complete The complete genetic genetic instructions for a instructions for a given organismgiven organism
All the genetic All the genetic material in an material in an organism’s organism’s chromosome chromosome patternpattern
The four letter The four letter code to code to distinguish genesdistinguish genes
Letters A,T,C, or Letters A,T,C, or G are usedG are used
MutationMutation Genetic Predisposition Genetic Predisposition
Random errors in the Random errors in the replication of genes replication of genes from parent to child from parent to child which result in change which result in change of an individual’s of an individual’s genetic codegenetic code
Can be desirable or Can be desirable or undesirable changesundesirable changes Superior eyesight, or Superior eyesight, or
predisposed to cancer.predisposed to cancer.
The possibility of The possibility of something happening something happening through the genetic codethrough the genetic code
Genetics creates the Genetics creates the potential for somethingpotential for something
The environment may The environment may or may not trigger the or may not trigger the predispositionpredisposition
Genetic traits and Genetic traits and diseases, sun burn diseases, sun burn easily, etc.easily, etc.
Nature and SimilarityNature and Similarity SimilaritiesSimilarities
99% of all humans genetic make up is the same!99% of all humans genetic make up is the same! Despite our differences, human beings throughout the world share Despite our differences, human beings throughout the world share
a number of similarities…how so?a number of similarities…how so?
Evolutionary PsychologyEvolutionary Psychology The study of evolution of behavior and the mindThe study of evolution of behavior and the mind Uses the principle of natural selectionUses the principle of natural selection We have similar genes b/c we are all from people who used similar We have similar genes b/c we are all from people who used similar
practices to survive.practices to survive.
Natural SelectionNatural Selection Darwin’s principle that those traits contributing to the survival of Darwin’s principle that those traits contributing to the survival of
the species will most likely be passed on to the next generationthe species will most likely be passed on to the next generation Discover thru trail and error what foods are okay to eat.Discover thru trail and error what foods are okay to eat.
Nature and Individual Nature and Individual Differences: Differences: Twin StudiesTwin Studies
Anyone know any twins?Anyone know any twins?
How are they alike How are they alike
and how are they different?and how are they different?
Identical TwinsIdentical Twins Fraternal TwinsFraternal Twins
Nature’s human Nature’s human clones.clones.
Twins who Twins who developed from developed from a single a single fertilized eggfertilized egg
Are genetically Are genetically identicalidentical
Called Called monozygotic monozygotic twinstwins
Twins who Twins who developed from developed from separate eggsseparate eggs
Genetically no Genetically no different than different than other siblingsother siblings
Called Called dizygotic twinsdizygotic twins
HeritabilityHeritability
What has been inherited from your family What has been inherited from your family and genetic code?and genetic code?
The proportion of an individual’s The proportion of an individual’s characteristics that can be attributed to characteristics that can be attributed to genetics (heredity)genetics (heredity)
The degree to which traits are inherited.The degree to which traits are inherited.
Twin StudiesTwin Studies
Used to determine the heritability of a Used to determine the heritability of a given traitgiven trait
Data is collected from both identical and Data is collected from both identical and fraternal twins on the traitfraternal twins on the trait
Compare the data between the two groupsCompare the data between the two groups Important not to conclude that a specific Important not to conclude that a specific
behavior is inherited, just the genetic behavior is inherited, just the genetic predisposition to that behavior (anger, predisposition to that behavior (anger, conflict, etc.).conflict, etc.).
Adoption StudiesAdoption Studies
Compare adopted children’s traits with Compare adopted children’s traits with those of their biological parents and their those of their biological parents and their adopted parentsadopted parents
Trait similarities with biological parents: Trait similarities with biological parents: attribute the trait to heredityattribute the trait to heredity
Trait similarities with the adopted Trait similarities with the adopted parents: attribute the trait to the parents: attribute the trait to the environmentenvironment
Environment Matters: Environment Matters: Early Learning and Early Learning and Brain DevelopmentBrain Development
Did you know that genetic traits account for about Did you know that genetic traits account for about half of our personality traits?half of our personality traits?
And growing up in the same house only accounts And growing up in the same house only accounts for 10% of our personalities? for 10% of our personalities?
Look at page 45 for a story.Look at page 45 for a story.
Early Brain DevelopmentEarly Brain Development
Use it or lose it!Use it or lose it! Experience nurtures nature (????)Experience nurtures nature (????)
Ex: I don’t remember science learned in the 5Ex: I don’t remember science learned in the 5 thth grade, so grade, so “no, in some cases I am not smarter than a 5“no, in some cases I am not smarter than a 5thth grader”. grader”.
Ex: If you roller blade in elementary school, but don’t Ex: If you roller blade in elementary school, but don’t again until you are 21…you might have to re-learn.again until you are 21…you might have to re-learn.
Early experience is critical in brain Early experience is critical in brain developmentdevelopment (in order for us to reach our full (in order for us to reach our full potential).potential).
In later life continued use is necessary to In later life continued use is necessary to maintain neural connections in the brain.maintain neural connections in the brain.
Look at how much nurture can affect:Look at how much nurture can affect:Examples from page 60:Examples from page 60:
Rats house for 60 days in an enriched (fun, Rats house for 60 days in an enriched (fun, stimulating) environment had brain weight stimulating) environment had brain weight increases of 7-10% more than rats housed in increases of 7-10% more than rats housed in an impoverished (boring) environment.an impoverished (boring) environment.
Premature babies who receive special handling Premature babies who receive special handling (touch, massage) grow more rapidly physically (touch, massage) grow more rapidly physically and neurologically than preemies who do not and neurologically than preemies who do not receive the same treatment.receive the same treatment.
What are What are Feral Children?Feral Children?
How did their environment impact them?How did their environment impact them?
How about their nature?How about their nature?
Environment Matters:Environment Matters:Peer InfluencePeer Influence Cultural InfluenceCultural Influence Peer influence in Peer influence in
adolescence is very adolescence is very powerful.powerful.
Many studies suggest a Many studies suggest a peer group is correlated peer group is correlated with school with school performance, smoking, performance, smoking, and other behaviors.and other behaviors. Ex: If your group of Ex: If your group of
friends doesn’t do friends doesn’t do drugs… you probably drugs… you probably won’t either.won’t either.
Shared attitudes, beliefs, Shared attitudes, beliefs, norms and behaviors of norms and behaviors of a groupa group
Culture is Culture is communicated from one communicated from one generation to the nextgeneration to the next
Influences our:Influences our: Food selection, religious Food selection, religious
choices, family choices, family activities, etc.activities, etc.
Tend to think your Tend to think your culture is the best.culture is the best.
Norms: What is Normal?Norms: What is Normal?
Understood rules for accepted and Understood rules for accepted and expected behaviorexpected behavior
Consist of the “proper behavior” within a Consist of the “proper behavior” within a groupgroup
So what the heck does normal mean, anyway?So what the heck does normal mean, anyway?
CollectivismCollectivism IndividualismIndividualism
Giving priority to the goals Giving priority to the goals of one’s group over one’s of one’s group over one’s personal goalspersonal goals
Defining Defining one’s identity in one’s identity in terms of the group’s terms of the group’s identificationidentification rather than rather than personal attributespersonal attributes
See people as connected to See people as connected to othersothers
Individual needs are Individual needs are sacrificed for the good of sacrificed for the good of the group.the group.
Giving priority to one’s Giving priority to one’s goals over the goals of the goals over the goals of the groupgroup
Defining Defining one’s identity in one’s identity in terms of personal attributesterms of personal attributes rather than the group’s rather than the group’s identificationidentification
Tend to see people as Tend to see people as separate and independentseparate and independent