Nature-Nurture

PSYC 200
Dr. Elliott S. Lee
Nature vs. Nurture
• Which is it?
• How would you test it?
• How would you test if the daily amount of flatulence was due to
environmental factors (e.g., food or air pressure) or genetic factors (i.e.,
family traits)?
Selective
Breeding
• Animal
• Dog breeds
• Eugenics
• Behavioural genetics
• The empirical science of how genes and environments combine to generate behavior.
Studying Nature-Nurture
Genes Environment
Heritability Social context

Twin Studies
monozygotic vs dizygotic

Adoption Studies

Heritability coefficient
h2 = 2(rmz - rdz)

Variability vs. quantity of genetic influence

Heritability ≠ Inherited
Lesson: Avoid Making Assumptions
Similarities/Dissimilarities
• Politics • Pets owned • Regional (climate) preferences
• Cigarette brand • Hobbies • Social preferences
(gregarious/reclusive)
• Music • Family members (names, ages,
interests) • Automobile preferences
• Toothpaste brand
• Favorite school subjects • Marital status
• Religion
• Educational interests (major) • Sleeping habits
• Coffee brand
• Subjects you dislike • Handedness
• Clothes
• TV programs • Reading tastes
• Newspapers
• Favorite foods • Grade point average
• Jobs held
• Habits • Talents
• Favorite magazines
• Foods you dislike • Major illnesses (age of occurrence)
• Job goals
• Personality traits • Aversions (What bugs you?)
• Any special or unusual talents or
abilities • Favorite colors • Sensitivity to drugs
• Sports • Vacation--activities, preferences • Chewing gum brand
 Genes x
Environmen
t

• Environment can actually effect gene. Bunnies

raised at higher temps might be white… the
bunnies will then pass it down
• the idea that a single gene influences a trait…
VERY RARE… eye color is one of em
• Phenylketonuria
• Height: no single gene. It is effected by
environment. Height in Europe and Asia has been
increasing due to better nutrition
• READ THE LAST PHARAGRAPH ON THE TEXTBOOK.