1. Nature vs. Nurture

2. Objectives To differentiate between the terms nature and nurture
To identify which human traits are considered genetically acquired and which are acquired through the environment
To recognize the controversies involved in classifying traits as either nature or nurture
To discern the importance of the interaction of genetics and the enviroment

3. Nature v. Nurture
The debate of scientist and philosophers in looking at the role of biology in determining who we are as people.

4. Nature Heredity – plays a key role in both humans and animals.
The traits we inherit will shape our behavior
Heredity is vital to the transmission of physical traits, but also related to some psychological traits

5. People who support nature side
Argue that people’s personality and traits are primarily determined by their biological make-up
Our inherited characteristics determine the kind of people we are

6. Nurture Environment plays a key role in a person’s development
Life experiences will shape our behavior
Environment is vital both psychological and physical traits

7. People who support nurture
Argue that the environment we live in and our every day experiences – not our biological make-up determine how we behave and think

8. Two extreme views
Today most psychologist agree that both nature and nurture determine our psychological traits
Biology influences us to act a certain way, but our environment modifies this behavior
Still a very heated debate

9. Kinship Studies
Common way to sort role heredity plays in determing behavior
Identical twins share 100% of genes
Parent/child share 50%
Aunts&uncles with neices&nephews 25%
1st cousins 12.5%

13. Twin Studies
The study of identical and fraternal twins is a useful way to learn about the relative influences of nature and nurture
If identical twins are more similar on certain trait than fraternal twins the trait must be genetic

14. Adoptee studies
Twins tend to be treated similarly and are exposed to the same environment
To eliminate the effects of a common background is to study children that have been adopted and raised elsewhere

16. Twins Reared Apart Most useful type of kinship study Thomas Bouchard
Major study began 1979
Found traits such as intelligence, traditionalism, risk avoidance, aggression, and leadership were all genetic

17. Define each term and describe the difference between the paired tems.
Nature / nurture
Genetics / environment
Genetic / inherited