N ATURE, N URTURE, & D IVERSITY

B EHAVIOR G ENETICS Behavior genetics: Study differences and weigh the effects of heredity and environment Genes: chromosomes How many from each parent? 23 DNA coiled strand Some are active, others are inactive Human genome: what makes us humans Traits are influenced by many genes

T WINS & A DOPTION Identical twins Single eggs which split Don’t always have the same # of genes Might have separate placenta Fraternal twins Two eggs; share fetal environment Separated twins: case studies

T EMPERAMENT & H EREDITY Temperament: emotional excitability Molecular genetics: specific genes influence behavior Molecular function & structure of genes Heritability Variation among individuals is varied in the genes Environment Interaction Both impact the individuals varies individual Epigenetics: molecular mechanics triggered by environment Genetic expression

E VOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY Evolutionary psych: Focus on what makes humans so alike Epigentics Natural Selection Best survival traits will be passed on through generations 1. Varied offspring compete for survival 2. Differences increase reproductive & survival changes 3. Pass genes to future generations 4. Population characteristics may change Mutations: random errors in genes

E VOLUTIONARY P SYCHOLOGY Experience & Development Need stimulation during formative years Language, skills, socialization Parents play a huge role in development Earliest role models Peer influence: want to fit in

C ULTURAL I NFLUENCES Culture Behaviors, ideas, values, attitudes shared by a group of people passed onto the next generation Norms: rules for accepted behavior Individualism: one’s own goals over the groups Collectivism: priority to group’s goals vs. own Child rearing: acceptable practices vary across world

G ENDER D EVELOPMENT Gender: biological and social characteristics Aggression, social power, social connectedness Nature of gender: 23 chromosomes X & Y – X: mother / Y: father Y carries testosterone (women have but less than men) XX: girl / XY: boy Determined by 7 th week of pregnancy 4 th and 5 th month sex hormones flood the brain Parts of the frontal lobe associated with verbal fluency are thicker in females Space perception (parietal lobe) thicker in men

N ATURE OF G ENDER How is gender expressed in our culture? Gender Roles What a culture expects of men and women

G ENDER & C HILD R EARING Social Learning Theory Theory we learn social behavior by observing & imitating & being rewarded or punished Gender identity: our sense of being male or female Gender typing; the acquisition of traditional male or female roles Transgendered: people’s sense of being male or female differ from their birth sex