1. Nature/Nurture Introduction Genes Evolutionary Psych Behavior Genetics
Natural Selection
Behavior Genetics
Twins
Adoption
Temperament
Heritability
Gene-Environment
Molecular Genetics

2. Continued... Environmental Gender Parents Prenatal Brain Development
Peers
Culture
Gender

3. Objectives Describe the composition & physical location og genes
Discuss the impact of evolutionary history on genetically predisposed behavior tendencies
Identify gender differences in sexual behavior & describe & evaluate evolutionary explanations for those differences
Describe how twin & adoption studies help us differentiate hereditary & environmental influences on human traits
Discuss how differences in infant temperament illustrate the effect of heredity on development
Describe how behavior geneticists estimate trait heritability, & discuss the interaction of genetic & environmental influences

4. Discuss the potential promise & perils of molecular genetics
Explain why we should be cautious about attributing children’s successes & failure to parental influence
Explain how twins may experience different prenatal environments, & describe the effect of experience on brain development
Describe how development is influenced by the individual’s peer group & culture
Explain how biological sex is determined, & describe the role of sex hormones in biological development & gender differences
Discuss the importance of gender roles, & explain how social & cognitive factors contribute to gender identity & gender-typing
Discuss the danger of blaming nature & nurture for our own personal feelings

5. Introduction What makes you you???
Psychologists generally believe that both contribute
What do you think?
Why does this chapter follow neuroscience and precede human development?
We are similar, yet different.

6. Genes: Biological Blueprint
Predisposed
Terms - DNA, chromosomes, genes
Would you want to know what diseases you may have later in life?
Pregnancy – would you test for genetic defects?
What do you think about employers using genetic testing as a means to hire?
Human genome project

7. Evolutionary Psych Explaining Universal Behaviors
To answer the why of behavior
Many misconceptions
Example: Why do children resist going to bed at night?
It is dark, and hunters and gatherers know that it is dangerous to be alone in the dark.
Present-day h-g believe it is child abuse.
There is no protest in cultures where children sleep with adults.
Timothy Miller’s How to Want What You Have

8. Continued… Natural Selection (H.O. for discussion) Critics
“gene-producing machines”
Women – 25 is limit, males is limitless
Mate selection and traits
Coolidge Effect
Critics
Starts with effect
Stereotypes
Not hard-wired
Universal?
*Again, it contributes to our understanding!

9. Behavior Genetics Explaining Individual Differences
Twin Studies
By chance??? (H.O.)
2001 follow up
Adoption Studies
Why are children in some families so different?
Birth order? Or other?
Temperament Studies
EAS Survey
Activity, emotionality, sociability

10. Gene – Environment Interaction Molecular Genetics
Heritability
Fly Away Home movie
Gene – Environment Interaction
Molecular Genetics
Many possibilities
Many questions
Ethics

11. Environmental Influence
Parents
Prenatal
Experience & Brain Development
Peers
Culture
Variation
Child-rearing

12. Gender Nature Nurture - discussion X & Y chromosome
Kleinfelter’s syndrome – males additional X
Turner’s - females only 1 x
Double Y – males extra y, prison study
Fragile X – about to break
Brain differences
Nurture - discussion
Gender roles – norms
Gender identity – sense
Gender-typed – traditional
Social learning theory – observe & imitate, reward & punishment
Gender schema theory – cognition, concepts, language

13. Your thoughts???