Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology Module 5 1

Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology Module 5 1 Garber 2017

2 Garber 2017

We are more related than you think… 3 Garber 2017

Behavior Genetics: Predicting Individual Differences Behavior Geneticists study our differences and weight the relative effects of heredity and environment. How does DNA effect Nature VS. Nurture? 7 Garber 2017

Genes: Our Codes for Life Chromosomes containing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are found in the nucleus of a cell. 8 Garber 2017

Interesting but not on your test • Down syndrome is the most common chromosome disorder and genetic cause of mental retardation. It occurs because of the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. For this reason, it is also called trisomy 21. 9 Garber 2017

Interesting but not on your test • There are over 500 genetic causes of mental retardation…. . » Lilienfeld, S. O. (2010). 50 great myths of popular psychology: Shattering widespread misconceptions about human behavior. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley. Blackwell. 12 Garber 2017

Interesting but not on your test • Prison inmates are 20 x more likely to be XYY than the general population. • 2% or inmates have chromosomal irregularities. • Kowles, R. V. (2010). The wonder of genetics: the creepy, the curious, and the commonplace. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 13 Garber 2017

Genes: Our Codes for Life Segments within DNA consist of genes that make proteins to determine our development. Link 49: 06 14 Garber 2017

Interesting but not on your test • An APOE 4 carrier individual has a 2. 7 -fold increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (Rubinsztein et al. 1999). • Aitken, K. J. (2010). An A-Z of genetic factors in autism: a handbook for parents and carers. London: Jessica Kingsley. 15 Garber 2017

Genome is the set of complete instructions for making an organism, containing all the genes in that organism. Thus, the human genome makes us human, and the genome for drosophila makes it a common house fly. 16 Garber 2017

Twin and Adoption Studies 17 Garber 2017

Separated Twins A number of studies compared identical twins reared separately from birth, or close thereafter, and found numerous similarities. Separated Twins Personality, Intelligence Abilities, Attitudes Interests, Fears Brain Waves, Heart Rate 18 Garber 2017

Biological Versus Adoptive Relatives Adoption studies, as opposed to twin studies, suggest that adoptees (who may be biologically unrelated) tend to be different from their adoptive parents and siblings. 19 Garber 2017

Parenting does have an effect on biologically related and unrelated children. Parenting Influences Children’s Attitudes, Values Manners, Beliefs Faith, Politics Garber 2017 22

Temperament and Heredity Temperament refers to a person’s stable emotional reactivity and intensity. Identical twins express similar temperaments, suggesting heredity predisposes temperament. 24 Garber 2017

• …there is no question that antisocial behavior is heritable… 25 Garber 2017

Gene-Environment Interaction Genes and environment affect our traits individually, but more important are their interactive effects. Garber 2017 Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters/Corbis Rex Features People respond differently to Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) than Orlando Bloom. 29

Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature Evolutionary psychology studies why we as humans are similar. 30 Garber 2017

Natural Selection Natural selection is an evolutionary process through which beneficial traits are passed on because these traits aid survival/reproduction 32 Garber 2017

33 Garber 2017

34 Garber 2017

Artificial Selection Any trait that is favored artificially spreads to future generations. L. N. Trur, American Scientist (1999) 87: 160 -169 35 Garber 2017

Human Traits A number of human traits have been identified as a result of pressures afforded by natural selection. Infants fear strangers when they become mobile. People fear spiders and snakes and not electricity and guns? How are men and women alike? How and why do men’s and women’s sexuality differ? 36 Garber 2017

Natural Selection & Mating Preferences Natural selection has caused males to send their genes into the future by mating with multiple females since males have lower costs involved. However, females select one mature and caring male because of the higher costs involved with pregnancy and nursing. 37 Garber 2017

Mating Preferences Males look for youthful appearing females in order to pass their genes into the future. Females, on the other hand, look for maturity, dominance, affluence, and boldness in males. Data based on 37 cultures. Garber 2017 38

Criticisms and rebuttals on the Evolutionary Perspective EP takes a behavior and works backward to explain it in terms of natural selection…. it was never intended to be predictive EP proposes genetic determinism and undercuts morality…it explains how we adapted, not how we should be. 39 Garber 2017

Evolutionary Psychologists Reply Evolutionary psychologists argue that we need to test behaviors that expound evolutionary principles. Evolutionary psychologists remind us how we have adapted, but do not dictate how we ought to be. Males and females are more alike than different, and if we study these differences we can establish their causes. 40 Garber 2017

End 42 Garber 2017

Preview Question • Joseph has blue eyes and brown hair and is tall. These characteristics are best described as A. B. C. D. E. recessive genes dominant genes mutations genotypic traits phenotypic traits

Preview Question • 5 89. A trait that appears in an organism only when both parents possess the gene for that trait is referred to as (AP 14) A. B. C. D. E. autosomal recessive polygenic dominant phenotypic

Preview Question • Assume that R represents a dominant gene in rats for normal running and that r represents a recessive gene in rats for an abnormal gait called waltzing. Mating a female Rr rat with a male RR rat will produce offspring that are A. B. C. D. E. 50% runners and 50% waltzers 25% runners and 75% waltzers 75% runners and 25% waltzers 100% runners

Preview Question • Which of the following statements is supported by research on homosexuality? A. There is a correlation between sexual orientation and early childhood problems. B. There is a correlation between the sexual orientation of a child and the sexual orientation of his or her adoptive parents. C. There is a correlation between sexual orientation and the size of the cerebellum. D. It is possible that high levels of dopamine influence sexual orientation. E. Studies of twins have shown a genetic predisposition to homosexuality.

Preview Question • Which of the following research findings supports a strong biological basis for behavior? A. Presenting a loud sound just before presenting a neutral stimulus eventually produces fear of the neutral stimulus. B. Including misinformation in a question about an event decreases the accuracy of memory for the event. C. Observing an aggressive model leads to aggressive behavior by the observer. D. Identical twins who are reared apart have similar levels of intelligence. E. Individuals working in a group put forth less effort than they put forth when working alone.

Preview Question • Which of the following reflects the inborn and stable rudiments of personality, such as excitability? A. B. C. D. E. Imprinting Social referencing Individuation Temperament Accommodation

Preview Question • The evolutionary perspective (sociobiology) argues that A. Humans are motivated by a desire to maintain optimum hormonal levels B. Humans are genetically programmed to ensure that there is a new generation of the species C. Humans strive to minimize inconsistent thoughts and actions D. There is a relationship among task difficulty, physical arousal, and task performance E. Conditioning explains most human behavior

Preview Question • The result of the evolutionary process that preserves traits that enhance the adaptation of an organism and suppresses traits that do not is called A. B. C. D. E. Habituation Accommodation Natural selection Eugenics Species assimilation

Preview Question • A genetically programmed action pattern is the ethologist's definition of A. B. C. D. E. Habit Instinct Adaptation Altruism Releasing mechanism

Preview Question • An evolutionary psychologist would explain that humans desire social interaction, social acceptance, and social affiliation due to a need for A. B. C. D. E. achievement individualism behavioral change survival self-actualization

Preview Question • Of the following, an evolutionary psychologist will most likely investigate the A. B. C. D. E. age of children when they speak their first words speed of an action potential reason why many people have an innate fear of the dark factors that make a person feel accepted by others features of a car that make it easier for a person to operate

Preview Question • Of the following, an evolutionary psychologist will most likely investigate the A. age of children when they speak their first words B. speed of an action potential C. reason why many people have an innate fear of the dark D. factors that make a person feel accepted by others E. features of a car that make it easier for a person to operate

Preview Question • One-year-old Marcus turns away in disgust if a bitter substance is placed on his tongue. The reason for such a reaction is most likely A. an inborn distaste for bitter that protects us from potential poisons in the environment B. an inherited familial characteristic C. an example of imitation of behavior modeled by other family members D. a classically conditioned taste aversion response E. a common but temporary aversion to bitter tastes produced by cold viruses