Nature vs. Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture Quiz

Answer True or False for the following questions    1. Even complex human traits are determined by a single gene 2. People’s divorce risks are about 50% attributable to genetic factors 3. Adoptees’ traits bear more similar to their adoptive parents than to their biological parents  4. Two different children in the same family are on average as different from one another as are pairs of children selected from the general population

Nature vs. Nurture Quiz cont

 5. If after a worldwide catastrophe only Icelanders and Kenyans survived, the human species would soon be just as mixed and diverse as it is now  6. A child who hears English spoken with one accent at home and another in the neighborhood or at school adopts the accent of their peers, not their parents  7. Compared with Westerners, people in Japan exhibit greater concern for social harmony and loyalty

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 8. Seven weeks after conception, males and females remain anatomically identical  9. Even when families discourage gender typing, children still organize themselves into “boy worlds” and “girl worlds”

Nature vs. Nurture Quiz Answers

 1. False  2. True  3. False  4. True  5. False  6. True  7. True  8. True  9. True

Heredity vs. Environment

  Heredity- characteristics obtained directly from the genes Environment person’s surroundings (which influence a person’s characteristics)  Question: Which do you think has the greatest influence? Nature? Nurture? Why?

Heredity

 Genes- basic units of heredity  Ex eye color, hair color, body build, etc.

 Chromosomes- structures containing genes  All human cells contain 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), except for reproductive cells which contain 23 chromosomes (1/2 of a pair, so they can attach to the other half to make a person)

Gender

 X Chromosome  In both men and women (men have 1, women have 2)  X Chromosome from each parent produces a female child  Y Chromosome  Only in men (men have 1)  Y Chromosome when paired with the X Chromosome from the mother produces a male child

Gender Roles

 Gender Role- set of expected behaviors for men and women  Gender Identity one’s sense of being male or female

Evolutionary Psychology

 Evolutionary Psychology- the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using the principles of natural selection  Natural Selection- the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increase reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Evolutionary Psychology

 World wide, men preferred attractive physical features suggesting youth and health and women preferred resources and social status

Twin Studies

 Used to debate “nature vs. nurture”  Identical twins- one egg that splits  the most alike any 2 people can be  Fraternal twins- 2 eggs  as different as regular siblings or 2 random people  Read about Minnesota Twin Study

Individualism vs. Collectivism

  Individualism giving priority to one’s own goals over group goals and defining one’s identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications Collectivism giving priority to the goals of one’s group (often one’s extended family or work group) and defining one’s identity accordingly  Western cultures (America/Europe) tend to be more individualist than Eastern cultures (Asia/Africa)

Value Contrasts Between Individualism and Collectivism Concept Individualism Collectivism Self Independent Interdependent (identity from individual traits) identity from belonging) Life task Discover and express one’s uniqueness Maintain connections, fit in What matters Me--personal achievement and We-group goals and solidarity; fulfillment; rights and liberties social responsibilities and relationships Coping method Change reality Accommodate to reality Morality Defined by individuals Defined by social networks (self-based) (duty-based) Relationships Many, often temporary or casual; Few, close and enduring; confrontation acceptable harmony valued Attributing Behavior reflects one’s personality Behavior reflects social behaviors and attitudes and roles