1. 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.

3. 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?

4. What similarities do you think the Jims have? What do they share?
What similarities do you think the Jims have? What do they share?

5. 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

6. 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

7. The longest debate in the history of psychology
Nature and Nurture
The longest debate in the history of psychology

10. First three minutes give a good overview

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. Sperm is Cheap
Eggs are not

18. 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?

19. Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice

20. Can you conceive of alternative explanations?

22. 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

23. Evolution
Cars kill many more people than spiders. So why are phobias of spiders much more common than phobias of cars?

24. Evolution of phobia

25. X
Evolution of phobia

26. Evolution of phobia

27. Evolution of phobia

28. X
Evolution of phobia

29. X
Evolution of phobia

30. Evolution of phobia X X X X

31. 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

33. Let’s watch one of the founders of the field…
Let’s watch one of the founders of the field…

34. Now that we have seen David Buss, to what extent do the tenets and/or criticisms ring true?

35. 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

36. 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

37. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins

38. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic

39. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic

40. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic

41. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic

42. Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic
Twin and Adoption Studies Identical Versus Fraternal Twins Monozygotic Dizygotic

43. 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

44. Where does this leave you?.
Where does this leave you?

45. 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

46. 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.

47. 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

48. 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.

49. 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

50. 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!

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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

55. 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

56. 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

58. 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

59. 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.

60. Gender and Sexuality crashed