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What qualities does your ideal partner have?
Close your eyes, imagine them and then write down a description of them. Not everyone is inclined towards a relationship or romantic or sexual interest. In this case, consider what you offer in a relationship.
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
“Jim twins” Jim Springer and Jim Lewis Identical twin brothers separated 37 days after birth and raised by different adoptive families Reunited at age 39 For scientists the question was once they were reunited, how were they alike after growing up in different environments?
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What similarities do you think the Jims have? What do they share?
What similarities do you think the Jims have? What do they share?
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 “Jim twins” and their eerie similarities Married women named Linda, divorced, then married women named Betty Oldest sons named James Allan and James Alan Liked math, but hated spelling in school Worked as deputy sheriffs, pumping gas, and McDonald’s Enjoyed stock-car racing and woodworking Mannerisms, tastes, habits, etc. owned dogs called “troy” drove same model and color Chevy chain smoked Salems chewed fingernails vacationed at same spot each year. Got headaches at same time each day ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Wait, there’s more! owned dogs called “troy”
drove same model and color Chevy chewed fingernails vacationed at same spot each year Got headaches at same time each day
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The longest debate in the history of psychology
Nature and Nurture The longest debate in the history of psychology
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First three minutes give a good overview
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 Evolutionary Psychology A subfield that uses the principles of evolution to understand human social behavior Adaptations are not only physical, but behavioral as well ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Evolution: Principles of Natural Selection
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 Evolution: Principles of Natural Selection Within a species, no two are alike. Individuals differ in their suitability to their environment. Those better suited are more likely to _____________________________ Reproduction perpetuates the genes of ______________________________ Survive and reproduce Better suited individuals ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Evolutionary Psychology
Behaviour is strongly influenced by inherited factors All human beings act to enhance their inclusive fitness – to increase the frequency and distribution of their genes in future generations Evolutionary Psychology
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Evolutionary Psychology
The human brain consists of neural circuits that have developed to solve problems that our ancestors faced during our evolutionary history Our minds are adaptations Adaptations evolve to meet challenges in the environment Evolutionary Psychology
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Reproduction is a key avenue of research and explanation as evolutionary psychology seeks to identify factors that maximized reproductive success Women feel attracted to healthy men but are especially attracted to wealthy men who can take care of their offspring Men are attracted to young fertile women because they have a biological impulse to mate widely Major tenets
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Sexuality and the Evolutionary Psychologist
Casual sex is more accepted by men. When average men and women randomly ask strangers for sex tonight, 75% of men agreed, almost no women agreed. WHY?
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Sperm is Cheap Eggs are not
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Sexuality and the Evolutionary Psychologist
Casual sex is more accepted by men. When average men and women randomly ask strangers for sex tonight, 75% of men agreed, almost no women agreed. Alternative Reasons?
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Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice
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Can you conceive of alternative explanations?
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Evolution: Adaptive behavior in humans and non-humans
Aggression: effective aggressors gain and maintain access to food, water, and desirable mates These “aggressive” behaviors increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction
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Evolution Cars kill many more people than spiders. So why are phobias of spiders much more common than phobias of cars?
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Evolution of phobia
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X Evolution of phobia
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Evolution of phobia
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Evolution of phobia
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X Evolution of phobia
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X Evolution of phobia
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Evolution of phobia X X X X
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Criticisms of Evolutionary Psychology
You cannot properly experiment and those in this field begin with the effect and work backwards to come up with an explanation Evolutionary psychology does not take current socio-cultural factors into account when constructing explanations nor does it emphasize the fact that much of who we are is not hard-wired Over emphasizes sex differences and downplays contrary evidence Criticisms of Evolutionary Psychology
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Let’s watch one of the founders of the field…
Let’s watch one of the founders of the field…
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Now that we have seen David Buss, to what extent do the tenets and/or criticisms ring true?
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 The Nature-Nurture Debates Extreme biological position Personality traits, physical characteristics, etc. are all programmed or “hard-wired” Extreme environmental position All traits and characteristics are shaped by life experience So how do we study this??? ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 Twin-Study Method Comparison of pairs of identical and fraternal twins of the same sex Identical Twins Are genetic clones - genetically identical Share DNA, but not fingerprints Have identical brain wave patterns Occur once every 254 births Adoption Studies Comparison of twins and other siblings reared together with those separated by adoption ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic
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Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic
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Introducing Psychology Genetic influences
2/25/2019 Nature and Nurture Genetic influences Based on the Minnesota personality studies: When raised together, monozygotic twins are more similar than dizygotic twins. MZ Twins raised apart are almost as similar to each other as those living in the same home. Prepared by Michael J. Renner, Ph.D. These slides ©2001 Prentice Hall Psychology Publishing. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Where does this leave you?
. Where does this leave you?
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 The Nature-Nurture Debates Other studies of twins and adoptees show: Genetic factors account for some differences in intelligence, verbal and spatial abilities, criminality, vocational interests, and aggressiveness. There is a genetic component to psychological disorders, such as alcoholism, depression, and schizophrenia. And, there is evidence for a genetic link to people’s attitudes toward issues and activities. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
This study involved 672 twins who rated their attitudes on various issues and activities. The results show some influence of genetic factors.
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 The Nature-Nurture Debates Genetic differences typically account for less than 50 percent of the variation in personality. Environmental factors account for the rest of the variation. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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The Nature-Nurture Debates
A study of 5,542 three-year-olds found that Children with older brothers had higher masculinity scores Children with older sisters had higher femininity scores These results would seem to support the nurture hypothesis.
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The Nature-Nurture Debates The Interplay of Nature and Nurture
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 The Nature-Nurture Debates The Interplay of Nature and Nurture Genetic and environmental influences are not independent. Identical twins receive more similar treatment from their parents compared to fraternal twins. People’s genetic makeup influences how they are treated by others, the environments in which they live, and the way they perceive and recall the details of that environment. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Debates reborn! Your time to work on your debates. Two options:
Regular debate within your group Or Investigate both positions, present both sides and then provide your own analysis Debates reborn!
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 Gender: A Great Divide? Gender differences have been found in the following biological areas: Age when puberty is reached, height, weight, fat content, and amount each sweats Also, women are expected to live longer than men are…(but the gap varies) ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Gender: A Great Divide? How Are Men and Women Different?
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 Gender: A Great Divide? How Are Men and Women Different? In the area of _________________, men and women report different attitudes and behaviors, with men, in general, expressing more interest in sex. In the area of _____________________, men generally are more physically aggressive compared to women. In the area of _____________________, males tend to do better on tests of math and spatial abilities and females typically score higher on tests of verbal skills. sexuality Physical aggression Cognitive Abilities ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 Gender: A Great Divide? Why Do These Differences Between Men and Women Exist? Evolutionary (Biological) Perspectives These perspectives focus on the different levels of sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, which have their greatest impacts during prenatal development and puberty. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Introducing Psychology
2/25/2019 Gender: A Great Divide? Why Do These Differences Between Men and Women Exist? Environmental Perspectives Males and females have different life experiences because of how others treat them, that is, how they are socialized. Gender Roles Sex-typed behaviors promoted by social learning. Gender Schemas Beliefs about men and women that influence the way people perceive themselves and others. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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Introducing Psychology
Gender: A Great Divide? Why Do These Differences Between Men and Women Exist? 2/25/2019 A Biosocial Theory Sex differences develop from an interaction between nature (biology) and nurture (environment). For example, although biological predispositions lead to a division of labor, today culture has a strong effect on the work roles of men and women. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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The Nature and Nurture Of...Sexual Orientation
Introducing Psychology 2/25/2019 The Nature and Nurture Of...Sexual Orientation Origins of Homosexuality Both biological and environmental theories are offered to explain the origins of sexual orientation. Twin studies support the theory that sexual orientation has biological roots. A survey of gay men and their twins and adopted brothers found that 52 percent of the identical twins were gay, while only 22 percent of fraternal twins and 11 percent of adoptive brothers were gay. ©2001 Prentice Hall
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The Nature and Nurture Of
The Nature and Nurture Of... Sexual Orientation Daryl Bem’s Developmental Theory Bem’s developmental theory of homosexuality states that genes determine childhood behaviors that later affect adolescents’ attraction to either the same sex or the other sex. Other theorists view sexual orientation as developing from both nature and nurture.
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Gender and Sexuality crashed
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