Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY(7th Ed)

Chapter 3

The Nature and NurtureOf Behavior

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Chromosomesthreadlike structures made of DNA that contain the genes

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomeshas two strands-forming a “double helix”--held together by bonds between pairs of nucleotides

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Genesbiochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomesa segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

Genomethe complete instructions for making an organismconsisting of all the genetic material in its chromosomes

Genes: Their Location and Composition

Nucleus Chromosome Gene

Cell DNA

Evolutionary Psychology

Natural Selectionthe principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Mutationsrandom errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotidesthe source of all genetic diversity

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychologythe study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using the principles of natural selection

Genderin psychology, the characteristics, whether biologically or socially influenced, by which people define male and female

Evolutionary PsychologyMen preferred attractive physical features suggesting youth and healthWomen preferred resources and social status

Behavior Genetics

Behavior Geneticsstudy of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Environmentevery nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

Behavior GeneticsIdentical Twins

develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Fraternal Twinsdevelop from separate eggsgenetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share the fetal environment

Identicaltwins

Fraternaltwins

Samesex only

Same oropposite sex

Behavior GeneticsTemperament

a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

Heritabilitythe proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genesmay vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

Behavior GeneticsInteraction

the dependence of the effect of one factor (such as environment) on another factor (such as heredity)

Molecular Geneticsthe subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

Environmental Influence

Two placental arrangements in identical twins

Environmental Influence

Experience affects brain development

Impoverishedenvironment

Rat braincell

Rat braincell

Enrichedenvironment

Environmental Influence

A trained brain

Environmental Influence

Culturethe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Norman understood rule for accepted and expected behavior

Environmental Influence

Personal Spacethe buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies

Memesself-replicating ideas, fashions, and innovations passed from person to person

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

X Chromosomethe sex chromosome found in both men and womenfemales have two; males have onean X chromosome from each parent produces a female child

Y Chromosomethe sex chromosome found only in men when paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Testosteronethe most important of the male sex hormonesboth males and females have itadditional testosterone in males stimulates

growth of male sex organs in the fetusdevelopment of male sex characteristics during puberty

Rolea set of expectations (norms) about a social positiondefining how those in the position ought to behave

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Gender Rolea set of expected behaviors for males and females

Gender Identityone’s sense of being male or female

Gender-typingthe acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Gender and Culture

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Social Learning Theorytheory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

Gender Schema Theorytheory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Two theories of gender typing