Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY

Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture

Of Behavior

AP Psychology- Coach Sprenkle

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Chromosomes threadlike structures made of DNA that

contain the genesDNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

has two strands-forming a “double helix”- held together by bonds between pairs of nucleotides

Genes: Our Biological Blueprint

Genes biochemical units of heredity that make up the

chromosomes a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a

proteinGenome

the complete instructions for making an organism consisting of all the genetic material in its

chromosomes

Genetics and Behavior

Nucleus Chromosome Gene

Cell DNA

Behavior Genetics

Behavior Genetics study of the power and limits of

genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Environment every nongenetic influence, from

prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

Behavior Genetics

Identical Twins develop from a single

zygote (fertilized egg) that splits in two, creating two genetic replicas

Fraternal Twins develop from separate

zygotes genetically 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

Heritability the proportion of variation among

individuals that we can attribute to genes

may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

Behavior Genetics

Interaction the effect of one factor (such as

environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

Molecular Genetics the subfield of biology that studies

the molecular structure and function of genes

Evolutionary Psychology

Natural Selection the principle that, among the range of

inherited trait variations, those contributing to survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Mutations random errors in gene replication that lead

to a change in the sequence of nucleotides the source of all genetic diversity

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology the study of the evolution of behavior

using the principles of natural selectionGender

in psychology, the characteristics, where biologically or socially influenced, by which people define male and female

Evolutionary Psychology

Men everywhere preferred attractive physical features suggesting youth and health

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

Culture the enduring behaviors, ideas,

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

Norm an understood rule for accepted and

expected behavior

Environmental Influence

Personal Space the buffer zone we like to

maintain around our bodiesMemes

self-replicating ideas, fashions, and innovation passed from person to person

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

X Chromosome the sex chromosome found in both men and

women females have two; males have one an X chromosome from each parent

produces a femaleY Chromosome

the 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

Testosterone the most important of the male sex hormones both males and females have it additional testosterone in males stimulates

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

puberty

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

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Gender Role a set of expected behaviors for males

and femalesGender Identity

one’s sense of being male or femaleGender-typing

the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role

The Nature and Nurture of Gender

Social Learning Theory theory that we learn social behavior by

observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

Gender Schema Theory theory 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

Percentage agreeing “The activities of married women are best confined to home and family”

Men

Women

1967 ‘71 ‘75 ‘79 ‘83 ‘87 ‘91 ‘95Year

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percentage