Transcript Introduction to Psychology

Myers’ EXPLORING
PSYCHOLOGY
(6th Ed)
Chapter 3
Nature & Nurture
Of Behavior
Based on info fm McCubbin, Myers, Lefton
Worth Publishers
Evolutionary Psychology
 Study of evolution of behavior &
mind, using principles of natural
selection
 Example
 Helps explain gender differences in
sexuality
 Critics
 Make too many hindsight explanations
Behavior Genetics
 Study of relative power & limits of genetic
& environmental influences on behavior
 Heredity
 Biological transmission of traits &
characteristics from parents to offspring
 Genes
 Biochemical units of heredity; make up
chromosomes
 Environment
 Every non-genetic influence
Behavior Genetics
Identical
twins
Fraternal
twins
 Twin studies
 Identical twins
 Develop from single fertilized
egg
 Fraternal twins
 Develop from separate eggs
 Adoption studies
 Temperament studies
 Temperament
Same
sex only
Same or
opposite sex
Environmental
Influence Examples
 Parental influence
 Account for less of personality & more
for value & beliefs
 Experience
 Enriched environment activates &
preserves neural connections
 Peer influence
 Culture
Nature & Gender
 Genetic difference between
sexes
 X Chromosome
 Y Chromosome
 Testosterone
Nurture & Gender
 Gender Role
 Set of expected behaviors for males & females
 Vary over time & across cultures
 Gender Identity
 One’s sense of being male or female
 Gender-typing
 Acquisition of traditional masculine or feminine
role
Nurture & Gender
 Social Learning Theory
 Learn social behavior by observing &
imitating & by being rewarded or punished
 Gender Schema Theory
 Learn from culture a concept of what it
means to be male & female & adjust
behavior accordingly
Nature & Nurture
 Genes & experience both important
 Environment reacting to & shaping
what nature predisposes
 Work together
 Not ‘if’ but ‘how much’