What makes you who you are

1
What makes you who you are?

• In what ways are we similar to each other?
• Biological heritage
• Behavioral tendencies
• Brain architecture
• In what ways are we different?
• Individuality
• Combined biology and experience

2
(No Transcript)
3
Biological Blueprint

• Every cell contains the master plan
• At conception -- 46 chromosomes -- books
• Chromosomes made up of genes -- words (30,000)
• Genes made up of nucleotides -- letters
• Share 99.9 of genetic make up

4
Evolutionary Psychology

• The study of the evolution of behavior and the
  mind using principles of natural selection.
• Nature favors/selects traits that aid in
  survival, solving problems, coping with the
  environment, reproduction
• Over time, the traits that allow us to survive
  and reproduce are carried on.
• In what ways does a particular behavior allow us
  to survive?

5
Evolutionary Psychology

• Mutation -- a random error in gene replication
  that results in a change in the sequence of
  nucleotides
• Critique
• Works backwards to an explanation
• Overlooks nuture
• Undercuts progress in society

6
Behavior Genetics

• Study of power and limits of genetic and
  environmental influences on behavior
• What makes us different from each other?
• Use twin and adoption studies to figure out the
  types of genetic and environmental influences

7
(No Transcript)
8
Behavior Genetics

• Heritability -- the extent to which variations
  among individuals can be attributed to genes
• of observed variance not of individuals
  trait differences -- estimate
• As environments become more similar heredity as
  source of difference goes up

9
Environmental Influences

• Parents
• Prenatal
• Experience
• Peer Culture