Transcript UNIT 3C and Gender (9)

Chapter 3
NATURE VS.
NURTURE
NATURE VS. NURTURE
Nature – genes
 Nurture – environment
 Our biological make-up and our experiences
combine to make us who we are.

NATURE VS. NURTURE …
It’s complicating …
CELLS, CHROMOSOMES, DNA, GENES
•Cells in the human body have 23 pairs of
chromosomes (46 total)
•Half from your mother half from your father
•Chromosomes include DNA
•DNA includes genes
•Genes are the building blocks for our physical
development.
•Humane Genome project suggests that every
other human on this planet is close to being your
twin sharing 99.9% of your DNA. We tend to
focus on the .1% that makes us different.
TWIN STUDIES
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Behavior geneticists use twin and adoption
studies to learn the influences of genes and
environment.
 Identical
Twins
 Single
fertilized egg that splits into two
 Genetically identical
 Fraternal
Twins
 Develop
from two separate eggs
 No more similar than a brother and sister
IDENTICAL VS. FRATERNAL
An example of
a twins study
and cancer
TWIN AND ADOPTION STUDIES

Can indicate the heritability of a trait.
 Heritability
- The extent to which differences among
people are attributable to genes.
 Does
NOT mean that we can imply a certain trait is ___ %
inherited.
TWINS REARED APART
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Twin studies may be complicated by the fact
that twins typically grow up in the same
environment. So detecting if results are due to
genes or environment may be difficult.
 Adoption
studies can shed light on this issue.
 Video: Value in Adoption Studies
 Video: Gerry and Mark
ADOPTION STUDIES

You can also see the interaction between
nature and nurture when studying adopted
children.
 Adoptee’s
personality traits bear more similarities
to that of the biological parents.
 However, studies do show that the adoptive family
environment can plan impact the adoptee’s
attitudes, values, manners, faith and politics.
EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGISTS

Evolutionary Psychologists - Study the
behaviors, emotions, and thinking that have
allowed us to survive.
NATURAL SELECTION CHARLES DARWIN
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 future generations.
 Ex- giraffes necks, white rabbits living in polar
regions.
 Applied to humans- Fear developed in humans
as a positive gene to be passed down- those
too daring died .
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NATURAL SELECTION EXAMPLES
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Ex- Food preferences Q What food color is considered
least desirable and Why?
Ex-Intelligence -Those that deemed leopards nice to
pet rather than dangerous did not pass on genes.
Ex- Why do women prefer more muscular men.
Ex- Why do men think about sex more than women?
Re: bottom of p. 104
Ex. Men prefer youthful look..waists roughly one third
of hips. Q. Can environment influence tastes?
NATURE VS. NURTURE
John Locke’s blank slate theory- everybody is
born clean then socialization, experience writes
on that blank slate and you become who you
are. Nature Vs. Nurture
 Examples of how nature vs. nature ideology has
influenced brutal dictatorships or moral
atrocities.
 Social Darwinism in US (Mexican War and state
sterilization programs)
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NATURE VS NURTURE
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Ex. China- “On a white sheet of paper can be
printed the most beautiful words”

- Mao Zedong
Ex. Cambodia- “ Only the new born baby is
spotless” - Pol Pot

Stephen Pinker Video-Video Tools Kit
TEMPERAMENT

Temperament – a person’s characteristic
emotional reactivity and intensity. (emotional
excitability)
 Identical
twins have more similar temperaments
than fraternal twins.
 This is evidence that our temperament is
biologically rooted. (so there may be a biological
basis to our personality)
ACTIVITY – STRIKING SIMILARITIES

Pair up with a neighbor that you do
not know well at all. Discuss these
topics take note in the ways that you
are similar…
 Politics
 Music
 Religion
 Clothes
 Jobs held
 Job goals
 Sports
 Hobbies
 Favorite subject
 Subjects you dislike
 Favorite foods
 Food
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Climate preferences
Automobile preferences
Sleeping habits
Reading tastes
Talents
What bugs you?
Chewing gum brand?
Toothpaste brand
Coffee brand
Favorite magazines
Pets owned
Family members
TV programs
Personality traits
Vacation spots
Handedness
GENDER
The biological and social characteristics to
which people define male or female.
 Overall, males and females are very similar
genetically – but we cannot ignore some
observable differences that are influenced by
biological factors and culture.
 Women can do anything except.mp4 
Gender Identity – one’s sense of being male or
female.
 Video Gender Identity- Is the nature vs. nurture
issue dead. Start at 1:00
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GENDER DIFFERENCES:
GENDER DIFFERENCES:
The Myers text mentions
that…
 WOMEN
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Posses more body fat
Enter puberty earlier
Express emotions more
Are more likely to be
offered helped
On average 5” shorter
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Are more concerned with
“making connections” and
building relationships
More open to spirituality
Are usually the one both
sexes turn to to share
worries and hurts
Hold phone conversations
longer when talking to the
same sex (avg. 7.2 min vs.
males 4.6 min.)
GENDER DIFFERENCES:
The Myers text mentions
that…
 MEN
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Admit to being more
aggressive
Are more interesting in
fighting and hunting
Perceived as more
dominant
Use communication to
find solutions rather then
build relationships
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Place less emphasis on
religion
Are more skeptical
Believe their friendships
with women are more
intimate than friendships
with men.
Difference between men
and women - YouTube
GENDER ROLES
Gender Roles – a set of expectations for
males and females.
 Gender Roles in the Media by (Isabel S
Leone) – YouTube
 Gender Roles in Disney Movies – YouTube
 Gender Roles-Interviews with Kids - YouTube
 Activity – Divide into groups of males and
females… make a list of gender roles for your
gender and for the opposite gender.
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ACTIVITY: GENDER ROLES IN THE HOME:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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14.
When you go out, who drives?
Who fills out the tax forms?
Who writes “thank you” notes for gifts received?
Who is more likely to ask “where are my shoes?”
When the car needs repair, who takes it to the garage?
Who does the laundry?
Who dusts and vacuums?
Who know where to find the thermometer?
Who knows where to find a wrench?
When guests are over for dinner who makes the drinks?
Who waters the house plants?
Who mows the lawn?
When you go on a trip, who packs the suitcase?
When you go on a trip, who packs the car?
HOW DO WE LEARN GENDER?
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Gender Schema Theory – Children learn from
their cultures a concept of what it means to be
male and female and they adjust their behavior
accordingly.
 Through
language, dress, toys, and songs children
begin to shape their schema (mental view for
gender.
 Gender stereotypes in children's movies – YouTube
 Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising's Image of Women
GENDER CONT.
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Gender Typing – the acquisition of a traditional
masculine or feminine role.
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Ex Baby X studies where 20-24 yr olds where told a 3
month old baby was male (1/3rd ), female (1/3rd ) or not
told (1/3rd ). Psychologists analyzed:
 A) How they were talked to
 B) whether they were held
which toy they played with football, doll or bellring
9 month old baby X’s were given a jack in the box and
subjects explained the infants emotional reactions.
Subjects interpreted the reactions as fear or anger
(based on what they thought the baby’s gender was.
C)