Nature - Nurture

Dr. Irene Karayianni

http://www.acneeinstein.com/does-smoking-cause-acne/ http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/29/what-the-yuck-im-seeing-brown-specks/ http://sports-zine.com/bungee-jumping-thrilling-and-safe/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2539857/Obese-people-not-always-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_hair unhealthy.html http://12kaky.com/2011/11/26/scholarships-for-tall-people/ http://12kaky.com/2011/11/26/scholarships-for-tall-people/ http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/may/26/alcohol-hospital-admissions-record-high

Image sources http://www.icare4autism.org/news/2012/08/autism-spectrum-disorder-nature-v-nurture/

Nature Nurture

Image sources http://www.icare4autism.org/news/2012/08/autism-spectrum-disorder-nature-v-nurture/

Nature Nurture

Chromosomes DNA Genes

Nature: Genetic Influences on Behavior

non human

Image sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Mendel http://queenofallthingsgood.blogspot.gr/2012/07/its-time-to-move-when.html http://media.salon.com/2012/11/shutterstock_57341071-458x307.jpg

Selective breeding Mendel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_CnR0Ak604 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaH0Ws8RtSc

Nature: Genetic Influences on Behavior

human

Natural experiments to separate genetic and environmental influences on behavior and mental processes

Image sources http://www.icare4autism.org/news/2012/08/autism-spectrum-disorder-nature-v-nurture/

- studies of twins:

- monozygotic

- dizygotic

- studies of adopted children

Degree of similarity in IQ scores among various types of twins and siblings

Estimates of the extent to which certain personality traits

appear to be determined by heredity

• Extroversion: 61 %

• Conformity: 60 %

• Worry: 55 %

• Creativity: 55 %

• Paranoia: 55 %

• Optimism: 54 %

• Cautiousness: 51 %

• Aggressiveness: 48 %

• Ambitiousness: 46 %

• Intimacy: 33 %

Minnesota Center for Twin and Adoption Research US News & World Report, April 13, 1987

Nature: molecular genetic mechanisms of inheritance

Image sources http://www.pressenza.com/2013/06/us-supreme-court-genes-cannot-be-patented/

Nucleotides 4 chemical compounds located on double helix of DNA Adenine, thymine, guanine, cystine

Inheritance operates through genetic materials, called genes, found in nuclei.

= strands of DNA

segments of DNA on chromosomes that contain info needed to influence some aspect of the body

Takes form of double helix

Human chromosomes are arranged in 23 pairs

Nature: molecular genetic mechanisms of inheritance

Image sources http://writescience.wordpress.com/tag/mendelian-inheritance/ http://perfumesingapore.net/product/chromosomal-love-hugo-boss-xx-edt-women-and-hugo-boss-xy-edt-men/ http://www.washington.edu/news/2012/11/08/extra-chromosome-21-removed-from-down-syndrome-cell-line/

dominant gene

Reveals trait when present

recessive gene

Chromosome abnormality

Down syndrome

Achoo Syndrome: This dominant trait is also called the photo sneeze reflex. If,

when suddenly exposed to light, you sneeze (usually two or three times) you have

the genes for achoo syndrome.

Free Earlobe: The dominant trait is for lobes to hang free, a bit of lobe hanging

down prior to the point where the bottom of the ear attaches to the head. With

the recessive phenotype, the lobes are attached directly to the head.

Hand Clasping: Clasp your hands together (without thinking about it!). Most

people place their left thumb on top of their right and this happens to be the

dominant phenotype. Now, for fun, try clasping your hands so that the opposite

thumb is on top. Feels strange and unnatural, doesn't it?

Tongue Rolling: If you have the ability to roll the sides of your tongue upwards to

form a closed tube, you have the dominant phenotype for this motor skill. Those

who are not dominant for this trait cannot roll their tongue, no matter how hard

they may try.

Image sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue_rolling http://www.quirkology.com/USA/Experiment_AnalyseYourself.shtml http://askabiologist.asu.edu/mendelian-traits-humans http://whatisgenetic.com/tag/beeturia/

Nature: molecular genetic mechanisms of inheritance

Genes …

influence how neurons function

determine size and function of every area in the brain

influence structure and function of endocrine glands

influence behavior and psychological lives

Image sources http://www.icare4autism.org/news/2012/08/autism-spectrum-disorder-nature-v-nurture/

Nature Nurture

Physical environment Psychological / social environment

Nurture: Physical environments

• Air pollution

• Water pollution

• Alcohol during pregnancy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od13ZcQizWQ

Image sources http://www.healthymummy.com/pregnancy/alcohol-in-pregancy/ http://www.demotix.com/news/2433098/water-pollution-bangladesh#media-2432921

Nurture: Social environments

Image sources http://www.middlebury.edu/giving/priorities/parents/parentsletter http://psychcentral.com/lib/2012/siblings-dont-have-to-be-rivals http://maozblog.com/israel/living-in-israel-blog-why-you-need-to-make-new-friends/ http://www.innovationinpractice.com/.a/6a00e54ef4f376883401156f749d3b970c-popup

Nurture: culture, ethnicity

Culture: patterns of behavior,

beliefs and values shared by a

group of people

Ethnic identity: sense of belonging

to a particular ethnic group

(=group of people who are descendants of

a common group of ancestors)

Image sources http://www.unesco.org/new/en/hanoi/culture/ http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/wellness/specialpops.cfm

Nurture: culture & parenting

Image sources http://joannagoddard.blogspot.gr/2013/07/10-surprising-things-about-parenting-in.html http://www.ivillage.com/how-raise-assertive-child/6-a-143469

Well behaved

Collectivist cultures

Shyness, inhibition

Individualistic cultures

Assertiveness

Image sources

http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday/Real-Life-Physics-Vol-3-Biology-Vol-1/Heredity-Real-life-applications.html http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/healthandlifestyle/parenting-the-social-environment-and-its-effects-on-child-development/321

http://favim.com/image/106857/

+ Nature Nurture

Also: interplay of nature and nurture: genes & environments working together to influence psychological characteristics

Interplay of Nature and Nurture

Gene – environment correlation

Gene – environment correlation: certain genes and certain environments

occur together more often than would be expected by chance. People who

have a gene that influences a Ψ characteristic also tend to have experiences

that influence the same trait.

• Passive correlation: the person does not have to do anything

to cause genes and environment to correlate.

• Active correlation: genes and environments become

correlated through the actions of the individual, e.g. antisocial

behavior

Image sources http://alexlesterspersonalblog.blogspot.gr/2012/06/possibly-armchair.html http://housing.appstate.edu/index.php?module=pagesmith&uop=view_page&id=163

Interplay of Nature and Nurture

Gene – environment interaction

• Genes influence how experiences work and experiences influence how

genes work. The expression of genes can depend on the environment

– Two people with different genes often respond differently to the same

environment (e.g. maltreated children turn out to be antisocial depending on a gene version.

This gene version is activated if the children are maltreated)

– Gene expression can be variable, depending on the environment

Image sources http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/science/gene-env/ http://coloradolinkproject.com/assessment-and-intervention/signs-and-symptoms/child-maltreatment/

genes experiences

Sex, gender and human diversity

Image sources http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/376250012?view_mode=2

Sex, gender and human diversity

Image sources http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/1564550 http://shop.mattel.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=4213484 http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/gba-acs/course-cours/eng/mod01/mod01_04_01.php

• Sex: distinction between males and females based on biological characteristics

• Gender: psychological experience of being male or female

• Gender identity: one’s view of oneself as male or female

• Gender role: all behaviors that are typically masculine or feminine in our

culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hktffOK28c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbt2hnHE_80 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NZMJBMUHU8, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG0N13GK8Z4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqsbvG40Ww http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUyfD1F7k1I

masculinity

fem

inin

ity

Gender differences

Image sources http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meyer769/section16&17/author/clanc051/2011/12/

Language

Verbal memory

Perceptual speed

Fine motor skills

Higher grades in math

Science

Social studies

Spatial reasoning

Mechanical reasoning

cogn

itiv

e

abili

ty

Emo

tio

n

soci

al b

ehav

ior

Nurturing, Friendly

Helpful, Open

Cooperative, Trusting

Anxious

Depressed

Low self esteem

Competitive

Dominant

Assertive

Aggression

Risky behavior

Mat

ing

Prefer older mate

With high earning potential

Of good character

Threatened by emotional infidelity

Restrict sex to potential long term partners

Prefer younger mate

Physically attractive

With good housekeeping skills

Threatened by sexual infidelity

Comfortable with the idea of casual sex for themselves

Sexually jealous and controlling

Origins of gender differences

• biological differences that have evolved over thousands of years

• social learning experiences associated with gender roles

• structural differences in the brain

Image sources http://alfin2100.blogspot.gr/2006/03/peeping- toms-of-neuroscience-no-more.html

Sex differences in the brain

Image sources http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meyer769/section16&17/author/clanc051/2011/12/ http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/02/a-new-push-to-explore-the-brain/

Larger cerebral cortex

Larger right hemisphere than left spatial

abilities

Larger amygdala aggression

Larger corpus callosum greater integration

of 2 hemispheres, higher language skills

Larger hippocampus everyday memory,

inhibition

the cause of gender differences in cognition and emotion

OR

the result of gender differences in behavior and experience

Sex differences in the brain could be

Evolutionary theory

• Are you more likely to fear snakes or potatoes? Why?

• Evolutionary theory of gender differences: Gender differences

became coded in our genes in the distant past because ancestral women

and men faced different pressures

Image sources http://www.changeinwinnipeg.com/phobia-parties.php http://wildlife-photographs.blogspot.gr/2013/04/Black-Cobra-Snake.html http://home.howstuffworks.com/potatoes.htm

Evolutionary theory of gender differences

• pressures created by child care: women were more successful in raising children

when they formed groups, to scare off predators cooperative, social women

were more likely to be accepted in groups their children were more likely to

survive and pass their genes

• Can you think of any “pressures” created by hunting? Who had to go hunting?

Why? What skills were important in hunting so they would survive?

• Any critique of evolutionary theory?

Social role theory of gender differences

• Each society’s division of labor, and the different social roles that it

creates for men and women, is a force that creates psychological

gender differences

• Expectations of gender differences can create gender differences