10/4 You can get your scantron grade later on in the day (after my planning 2 nd period) For warm-up you will be answering a brief questionnaire. The questions are hard to answer, but answer with your first instinct. THERE ARE NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS. Do not put your name, but put your gender (male or female) at the top.

10/5 I will be passing scantrons and tests back out today. The Free Response has not been graded yet. We will take about 10 minutes to look over missed questions. Happy Friday!!!

Genetic Influences on Behavior Nature v.Nurture

Behavior Genetics- studies the relative effects of our genes (nature) and our environments (nurture) on our individual differences in behavior and mental processes. This guy will never be….this guy!!! Why does Brad Pitt look the way he does? Genes and environment both influence

Evolutionary Psychology Seeks to explain why humans act the way they do study behaviors, emotions, and thinking that seemed to allow our ancestors to survive, reproduce and send their genes into the future.

Evolutionary psychologists use natural selection to explain behaviors. What is natural selection? –(1) Genetic differences between individuals in a species causes some organisms to be better suited to their environment. (2)These organisms are more likely to survive and pass on their genes (3)These traits become more common in successive generations. –Mutations-random errors in gene replication that leads to a change

Natural Selection at Work 1959 Russian Fox story 30 Males, 100 Females- mated- then kept only tamest of bunch. Mated the tames. 40 years later New Breed of Fox Hand sanitizer? Sharks?

Look at our Behaviors… Why do women experience “morning sickness” in the first trimester of pregnancy? Why do infants develop stranger anxiety at about 8-13 months? Why do some people have phobias about spiders and snakes? Can you answer these questions using evolutionary psychology? Now, the big one?

How and why do men and women differ sexually?

Of course, there are other differences….

Survey…..wow… survey of U.S. college students: “If 2 people really like each other, it’s all right for them to have sex even if they’ve known each other for a very short time” 60/35 “I can image myself being comfortable with casual sex with different partners” 48/12 Survey yr olds: Cited affection as a reason for first intercourse 25/48 Think about sex every day or several times a day 54/19 Apply to homosexual people? American lesbians are twice as likely to have partners than gay men 24/47

Evolutionary Theory says that our sex drive indicates our genes way of reproducing. Since a woman usually incubates and nurses one infant, women pair wisely while men pair widely…

Gender Differences in Reproduction Women Sure the baby is hers Invests lots of time/energy into each child Can only make one baby per 9 month period (usually) Men Less sure the baby is his May invest very little time and energy into each child Have virtually unlimited reproductive potential Therefore, it is in the woman’s best interest to be choosy about who she mates with, picking only men who are 1) likely to have good genes, and 2) willing and able to provide for her and the child.

How does a women know? Good looks often indicates good genes. - Masculinized physical features correlates positively with better immune function. -Attracted to mature, dominant, bold, and affluent men (capacity to support and protect).

How does a women know? - Feminized facial features correlate positively a greater willingness to help raise children. -So do we look for masculine or feminine features? -It depends.

How does a man know? Drawn to young, healthy, and ‘fertile appearing’ women Regardless of culture men always seem to be attracted women whose waists are a third narrower than their hips (child bearing hips)

Is this always true??

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Theory 1.Starting with the effect and work backward to explanation 2.Underestimates cultural expectations and socialization 3.Does not hold people accountable for ethical and moral responsibilities for their sexual behavior

Name three characteristics that your ideal mate most have:

Gender Differences A few stats noting differences: 1. On average women have 70% more fat, 40% less muscle, and 5 inches shorter 2.Enters puberty 2 years sooner and will outlive her counterparts by 5 years 3.Women are 2x as likely to develop depression and anxiety, and 10x more likely to develop an eating disorder 4.Men are 4x as likely to commit suicide or suffer from alcoholism, far more likely to be autistic, color blind, and hyperactivity as well as antisocial personality disorder in WHY???

Gender Differences Aggression: Men admit to having more aggression than women in surveys (true). Male to female ratio in U.S. for murder is 9 to 1!!!!! Hunting, fighting are primarily men’s activities Social Power: Men are perceived as more dominant, forceful, and independent (true). Political leaders elected are usually men. This difference is lessening however.

Gender Differences Social Connectedness: women are less concerned with being individuals and more concerned with making ‘connections.’ *Differences surface early, in children’s play (boys play in large groups with activities/ girls play in intimate and more social groups) *Teen years females spend more time with friends and less time alone *Adulthood females tend to be more interdependent and use conversation to explore relationships

The Nature of Gender 7 weeks after conception, you were distinguishable from someone of the other sex Your sex was determined by your 23 pair of chromosomes, the two sex chromosomes From your mother you received an X, and from your father you received the ONE chromosome out of the 46 that is not unisex. You received an X Chromosome if you are a girl and a Y chromosome if you are boy.

Nature of Gender Y Chromosome is a single gene that triggers the production of testosterone- the most important male hormone (stimulates the growth of male sex organs) Females have testosterone as well just less of it

Gender Roles Gender roles-a set of expected behaviors for males and for females Make a short list of gender roles Think about….. 1.Do gender roles reflect what is biologically natural for men and women? 2.Or do cultures construct them?

“I am Glad I am a Girl I am Glad I am a Boy….”

Gender and Child Rearing Social Learning Theory: The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished. Does this explain gender typing? Ex. “Big boys don’t cry, Alex” “Nichole you are such a good mommy to your dolls” Gender Schema Theory: The theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male or female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly.

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Genes: Location and Composition In the nucleus of every cell we have 46 chromosomes…

Genetic Similarities Mr. Riggins is : 98% 99.9%

Behavior Genetics The study of the power and limitations of genes on who we are.

Twin Studies

What are the different types of twins?

Twins Best way to really study genetics because they come from the same zygote. Bouchard Study.69 Correlational coefficient for IQ tests of identical twins raised apart..88 raised together. Identical twins have a higher correlation than fraternal

Temperament Studies A person’s emotional excitability. People usually stay the same throughout life Relaxed babies tend to be fearless adults Emotionally intense babies tend to be emotional adults

Adoption Studies Studies show that adoptees’ personality traits are more similar to their biological parents than their adoptive families

Heritability The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. Does not say what percentage of an individual’s personality is inherited Mark Twain’s barrel example.

Nature v. Nurture What do you think so far? Does Nature and Nurture interact and grow off of each other? Lets find out soon by examining Nurture in detail….